ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Pakistan on Wednesday strongly rejected remarks by India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, saying his rhetoric reflected New Delhi’s pattern of hate-mongering driven by “imagined historical vendettas” rather than responsible statecraft.
The response came after Doval used the language of “avenging history” during a public address to young delegates in India earlier this week, drawing attention across the region.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued its reaction while responding to media queries about the Indian NSA’s comments, which were delivered at the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue on January 10. In that speech, Doval referred to India’s colonial past and argued that the country must strengthen itself in multiple fields to “avenge” what he described as a painful history of attacks and subjugation.
PR No.1️⃣8️⃣/2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣ Press Remarks by the Spokesperson https://t.co/hpXy0ehSzG ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/HvX4wZRfo5
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) January 14, 2026Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Pakistan had taken note of the remarks and viewed them as damaging to regional stability and diplomatic engagement. He said the language used by the Indian official departed from the norms of responsible statecraft and instead leaned on provocative historical framing.
“We have seen the reports on remarks made by the National Security Advisor of India. Such rhetoric is hardly surprising coming from camouflaged hate-mongers, for whom imagined historical vendettas are a substitute for responsible statecraft,” Andrabi said, adding that the approach undermines diplomacy and fuels tensions in the region.
During his address, Doval invoked prominent figures from India’s independence movement, including Mahatma Gandhi, Subhash Chandra Bose and Bhagat Singh. He told the audience that their sacrifices should guide India’s future direction and inspire young people to work towards national development and security.
The Indian NSA said the country must build strength not only along its borders but also economically, socially and across other sectors. He used the word “avenge” to describe what he called India’s historical experience of attacks and subjugation, arguing that this sentiment could serve as a motivating force for national advancement.
While the speech was presented as a message focused on youth leadership and national development, the emphasis on “revenge” and historical redress prompted reactions beyond India’s borders. In Pakistan, the remarks were viewed as politically charged and potentially destabilising, leading to the Foreign Office’s pointed response.
The Foreign Office said such narratives, centred on grievance and retaliation, run counter to the principles of dialogue and peaceful coexistence in South Asia, where both countries remain nuclear-armed neighbours with a long history of strained relations.