QUETTA: Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) president Nawabzada Shahzain Bugti has condemned Indian Prime Minister Nirendra Modi for hurling threats at Pakistan and said that Bugti tribesmen will be fighting on the front line if India imposes a war on the country.

Speaking at a press conference at his residence here on Sunday, he said that following in the footsteps of Nawab Akbar Bugti, his tribe was ready to defend the country.

“I will lead my tribe in its journey to the mountains of Kashmir to take part in war if India makes a mistake of committing any aggression against Pakistan,” Mr Shahzain said.

He recalled that the Bugti tribe had play a role in the creation of Pakistan and said that it would not allow India to even think about destroying Pakistan.

“We are ready to render sacrifices for defending our motherland,” the JWP leader said.

He paid tribute to Kashmiri people for their refusal to bow down before Indian occupation forces in held Kashmir. “The Indian forces’ atrocities and killing of innocent Kashmiris will not go unnoticed and soon the entire world will take its notice,” he said.

Replying to a question about his cousin Brahamdagh Bugti’s move to seek asylum in India, Mr Shahzain said that it was the former’s personal decision which had nothing to with his tribe.

Though he announced support to the government and the army against Indian threats, he complained that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had failed to keep promises he had made with him about rehabilitation of internally displaced persons (IDPs) belonging to Bugti tribe in their native areas.

The JWP leader said that Mr Sharif had assured him before the 2013 general elections that killers of Nawab Akbar Bugti would be brought to justice, Bugti IDPs would be paid compensation and arrangement would be made for their return to Dera Bugti. He urged the prime minister to fulfil his promises without further delay.

Published in Dawn, September 26th, 2016