Pakistan(National Times)- KARACHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday escalated his rhetoric against Pakistan, claiming that what were previously viewed as proxy wars now constitute a “well-thought-out strategy” by Islamabad, and warning that India would respond “accordingly” if faced with acts of war, The News reported. Addressing a ceremony in Gandhinagar, Indian Gujarat, Modi invoked a nationalist narrative rooted in historical grievances, vowing a forceful response to what he described as calculated acts of aggression from across the border. “We can’t call this a proxy war as those who were killed after May 6 were given state honours in Pakistan. Pakistani flags were draped over their coffins, and their military saluted them. This proves that these terrorist activities are not just a proxy war — this is a deliberate war strategy on their part”, Modi said. Citing Operation Sindoor, Modi claimed that nine identified terrorist bases were destroyed in 22 minutes with full camera documentation. Modi linked current tensions to the historical legacy of Partition, stating that “during Partition, Maa Bharati was divided into two, and that very night, the first terror attack on Kashmir was launched by the mujahideen. Had they been eliminated then, these 75 years of suffering could have been avoided.” He went on to lament how Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s vision of ‘reclaiming’ Azad Kashmir had not been followed through, adding ominously that: “No matter how strong or healthy the body is, even a single thorn can cause constant pain — and we’ve decided that the thorn must be removed”. Referring to India’s repeated military encounters with Pakistan, Modi asserted, “Whenever India and Pakistan went to war, our Indian Armed Forces defeated them in a way they would never forget. Realising they could never win a direct war against India, they turned to proxy warfare, providing military training and support to terrorists instead.” In the midst of his aggressive posturing, the Indian prime minister also decided to preach ‘global wellbeing’, saying that “India has always advocated peace and stability”. He also touched on water resource issues in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and the Indus Waters Treaty, which he claimed had been “put in abeyance”, accusing previous Indian governments of neglecting dam maintenance and water infrastructure. Modi used the occasion to also frame Operation Sindoor as a national mission. “Operation Sindoor is not merely a military initiative but a responsibility shared by every Indian citizen.” The speech also included broader economic commentary, with Modi highlighting India’s rise to what he says is the world’s fourth-largest economy. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has strongly condemned the Indian prime minister’s remarks, describing them as a “hate-driven invocation of violence” that sets a “dangerous precedent… in a region already burdened by volatility.” In a statement, the Foreign Office said the speech represented “reckless provocation, intended to distract from the ongoing human rights abuses and demographic engineering in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir.”  “The international community must take serious note of India’s escalating rhetoric”, the statement said.