'We Do Encourage...': US Reacts To PM Modi's 'Terrorists Being Killed In Their Homes' Remark

The United States has encouraged India and Pakistan to “avoid escalation” amid  Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh’s “new India will not hesitate to cross borders to kill terrorists” remark.

US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller on Tuesday said, “So as I have said before, the United States is not going to get in the – into the middle of this, but we do encourage both India and Pakistan to avoid escalation and find a resolution through dialogue.”

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Upon being asked why the US has not imposed any sanctions on India over the alleged assassination plot of Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, Miller, said, “I am never going to preview any sanction actions, which is not to say that there are any coming, but when you ask me to talk about sanctions, it’s something that we don’t discuss openly.”

PM Modi, while addressing a public rally in Uttarakhand last week, claimed that under the “strong” BJP government at the Centre, security forces were dealing with terrorists in their home turfs.

“Atankwadiyon ko ghar mein ghus ke maara (terrorists were eliminated in their own homes),” he said.

Earlier this month, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had reiterated India’s stance to “go across the border to kill terrorists if needed” while addressing a public meeting in Rajasthan’s Jhunjhunu.

“We will not spare anyone of them (terrorists)…will kill them in India and outside if required,” Singh had said.

In an exclusive interview with News18, the Defence Minister had asserted that the government will give a befitting reply to any terrorist who tries to disturb peace in India.

“If he [terrorist] flees to Pakistan, we will follow him and take him down on Pakistani soil. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken the truth… India has the capability and Pakistan has also started understanding that,” Singh had said when asked about a report in UK newspaper The Guardian that claimed the Indian government ordered assassinations in Pakistan as part of a wider strategy to eliminate terrorists on foreign soil.