One of Pakistan’s most high-profile politicians defended comments about Indian leader Narendra Modi that sparked an uproar between the long-feuding neighbours, as rhetoric heats up ahead of national elections coming soon in both countries.Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari defended comments made last week at the United Nations Security Council in which he referred to Modi as the “butcher of Gujarat” and said the Indian leader’s political party draws inspiration from Adolf Hitler.

He was responding to comments from India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, who called Pakistan the epicentre of terrorism.

Pakistanis shout anti-India slogans and carry a banner reading ‘butcher of Gujarat’ during a protest in Karachi on Sunday in support of Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. Photo: EPA-EFE
India’s Ministry of External Affairs had called Zardari’s remarks “uncivilised”, saying in a statement they were “a new low, even for Pakistan”. Even Modi’s opponents in India also expressed solidarity in opposing Zardari.

In an interview on Tuesday, Zardari said he was “referring to the historical fact, and they believe that repeating history is a personal insult”.

He also decried a member of Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party who reportedly said he would give a 20 million rupee (US$240,000) reward to anyone who would behead him.

India’s Modi is the ‘butcher of Gujarat’, Pakistan minister says

“If I’m quoting somebody else, and speaking about a historical fact that Mr. Modi would prefer we forget about, the response shouldn’t be a threat of assassination,” Zardari said, adding that the death threat “crossed a line”.

Relations between Hindu-dominant India and Muslim-majority Pakistan have been hostile since both gained independence from British rule in 1947.

They’ve fought three wars since then, two over the disputed region of Kashmir, an area in the Himalayas claimed in full and ruled in part by both. The two sides often trade barbs, especially over Kashmir.

No one thinks nuclear war is an appropriate reaction
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari plays down a colleague’s heated remarks

Shortly after Modi became chief minister of Gujarat state in 2002, more than 1,000 people – mostly Muslims – were killed in sectarian rioting.

Human rights groups blamed Modi for doing little to stop the violence, allegations that were denied by him and later dismissed by India’s Supreme Court.

Zardari also said comments from a colleague who said “India should not forget that Pakistan has an atom bomb” were not cause for alarm.

“That was not a threat for nuclear war,” he said. “No one thinks nuclear war is an appropriate reaction.”