Going to Pakistan is similar to going to hell: Parrikar

Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday went hammer and tongs at Pakistan, equating that country to hell.

A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi openly came out in support of "freedom" for Balochistan and 'Pakistan-occupied Kashmir', Parrikar, who was in Haryana's Rewari to participate in 'Jara Yaad Karo Qurbaani' programme, said, "Yesterday, our soldiers sent back five terrorists. Going to Pakistan is the same as going to hell."

"Pakistan has always been promoting terrorism. Now sometimes, even it is bearing the consequences of terrorism," he added.

Parrikar also said that if anybody decides to attack India, he will not remain silent.

He said that Indian soldiers will give a befitting reply to every attack. He said that Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) is part of India and the violation of human rights should stop in Balochistan.

Prime Minister Modi, during his address on the nation's 70th Independence Day, said, "People of Balochistan, Gilgit and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK) have thanked him a lot in the past few days and he is grateful to them."

"Today I want to specially honour and thank to some people from the ramparts of Red Fort. For the past few days the people of Baluchistan, the people of Gilgit, the people of Pakistan occupied Kashmir, the way their citizens have heartily thanked me, the way they have acknowledged me, the goodwill they have shown towards me, the people settled far across, the land which I have not seen, the people I have not met ever, but people settled at far across acknowledge the Prime Minister of India, they honour him, so it is an honour of my 125 crores countrymen, it is respect of my 125 crores countrymen and that is why owing to the feeling of this honour, I want to heartily thank the people of Baluchistan, the people of Gilgit, the people of Pakistan occupied Kashmir for having an expression of thankfulness," he added.