New Delhi [India], May 8 (ANI): Former Union Cabinet minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Thursday hit out at Pakistan amid the escalating tensions with India, saying that the neighbouring country was a 'factory of terrorism' and its destruction was 'beneficial' for humanity.

He said that the security forces were engaged in combating and punishing terrorists, who destroyed the lives of family members of the victims in the ghastly Pahalgam terror attack.

'The monsters who destroyed the lives of our sisters...their reigns are coming to an end today. Terrorists and their masters are being punished. It is clear that they are scared. Pakistan has become such a factory of terrorism that its destruction is beneficial for humanity. The sheltering of terrorism and terrorists (by Pakistan) has turned out to be a challenge to peace across the globe. This is why eliminating terrorism is a Dharma Yudh,' Naqvi told ANI.

'Our security forces are strongly combating and punishing terrorists. This is a changed India, which will take action against terrorism,' he added.

The senior BJP leader further said that the country stands together in times of distress while accusing some people on social media of indulging in 'anti-social' activity.

'The entire country is together, and this is the beauty of our country that whenever there's an attack of any kind, we stand together. However, some people on social media are indulging in anti-social activity. I want to advise them that our fight is against terrorists, but not with people who love our country. Those who indulge in such acts are acting as Pakistan's proxy partner,' Naqvi said.

Meanwhile, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey requested the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (IB) to 'shut down' the social media accounts of people who possess 'Pakistani mentality'.

In a post on X, he said that freedom of expression was not applicable during the war.

'This is a time of war; freedom of expression does not apply now. @MIB_India @MIB_Hindi should shut down people with Pakistani mentality on social media, YouTube. They are making their nonsense an international issue,' Dubey posted on X.

Meanwhile, the Indian Army have proportionately responded to the unprovoked small-arms and artillery guns firing by the Pakistani Army across the Line of Control (LoC) during the night of May 7 and May 8, as per the officials.

The Pakistan Army had resorted to firing in areas opposite in Kupwara and Baramulla districts and Uri and Akhnoor sectors in Jammu and Kashmir.

'During the night of May 7-8, Pakistan Army posts resorted to unprovoked fire using small arms and artillery guns across the LoC in areas opposite Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri and Akhnoor areas in J&K. The Indian Army responded proportionately,' the statement from the Indian Army stated. (ANI)