In a dramatic and emotional statement amidst heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, Karnataka Minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan on Friday declared that he is willing to "sacrifice" his life for the country and, if given permission by the central government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he would personally go to Pakistan as a suicide bomber.
“I am ready to sacrifice myself for the country. If the central government and the Prime Minister permit, I will go to Pakistan as a suicide bomber... We (Indian Muslims) have nothing to do with Pakistan, we hate it,” the Karnataka minister said, underlining his patriotism while firmly distancing Indian Muslims from any ties with Pakistan.
Khan’s statement comes at a time when national security remains in sharp focus, following a failed but large-scale drone attack launched by Pakistan across the western border on the intervening night of May 8 and 9. Indian Armed Forces successfully repelled the offensive, which targeted 36 military locations using an estimated 300-400 drones.
Earlier in the day, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh convened a high-level security review meeting at South Block, Delhi, in response to escalating border hostilities. The meeting was attended by the top military leadership, including Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, Naval Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, and Defence Secretary RK Singh.
