Vigorously responding to India’s hostile rhetoric coupled with covert and overt actions to destabilise Pakistan, the military and political leadership of Pakistan has warned its time-tested rival India against indulging in any sort of misadventure against Pakistan to disrupt regional peace.
Meeting at the formation commanders’ conference at General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi on Wednesday, the military leadership reiterated resolve to defeat enemy’s designs and defend the territorial integrity of Pakistan at any cost with a befitting response to any misadventure against Pakistan.
The members of the conference, presided over by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif and attended by corps commanders, principal staff officers and all formation commanders, agreed that it was “highly regrettable” that Indian politicians not only indulged in actions that were in violation of the United Nations (UN) Charter but also “took pride in claiming their interference in the internal affairs of other states”.
“No one should dare cast an evil eye on Pakistan,” the army chief was quoted as saying by DG ISPR Asim Bajwa.
According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the forum was given comprehensive briefings on security environment and professional issues.
In his address, COAS recounted the successes of the security forces in Operation Zarb e Azb and paid rich tributes to the officers.
Gen Sharif said terrorists have been cleared and dislodged from their strongholds in North Waziristan and Khyber Agency and the fight was now moving into the “last few pockets close to the Afghan border”.
Laying emphasis on continuation of operations till elimination of the last expected and probable terrorists groups and sanctuaries, he exhorted commanders to take all measures to prevent escape of trapped terrorists.
“With the entire nation standing behind, we will remain focused on achieving the objective of a terror free and peaceful Pakistan,” he said.
IT’S PAKISTAN NOT MYANMAR:
With the military leaders standing firmly for motherland’s defence, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan did not hesitate in advising India to not mistake Pakistan for Myanmar.
The minister was responding to Indian Minister of State for Information Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, who hours after his country had carried out an operation against militants in Myanmar had said, “India will strike at a place and at a time of their choosing against all countries, including Pakistan, and groups harbouring terror intent.”
The interior minister emphasised that those who harboured bad intentions towards Pakistan should “open their eyes and ears”. “Pakistan Army is fully capable of responding to any adventurism,” said Nisar.
PICKING OLD WOUNDS ARE WE?
Pitching in his side of the ‘defence’, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif told reporters outside the Parliament House on Wednesday that the Indian prime minister’s statement was “picking on old wounds”. He said Modi’s statement had soured the atmosphere of dialogue between the two countries.
“The government will defend the nation. If India speaks about teaching Pakistan a lesson, Pakistan too is capable of teaching India a lesson. Pakistan would provide a befitting reply if India tries anything. However, Pakistan does not want to ruin regional peace,” he said.
INDIA CAN’T TIP OUR BALANCE:
Briefing Senate on Wednesday, Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said that Pakistan will do what it can to expose India’s role in the separation of East Pakistan in 1971 and in destabilising Pakistan through terrorism.
Aziz said the government had taken notice of Modi’s acknowledgement of India’s role in East Pakistan in 1971. He said it was regrettable that Modi chose Bangladesh to issue a statement used to fan hatred against Pakistan in Bangladesh and that attempts at sowing the seeds of hatred for Pakistanis in Bangladesh would not succeed as the people of Pakistan and Bangladesh shared a common bond of religion and had endured a joint struggle for independence against the colonial rule.
He urged the United Nations and the international community to take note of India’s admission of participating in activities that destabilised Pakistan.
Aziz said it was ironic that Modi chose to present a case for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council in Bangladesh, adding that India would not qualify for the seat because of recent admissions of interference in East Pakistan and for violation of UN resolutions regarding the issue of Jammu and Kashmir.
Aziz also expressed regret over the Indian defence minister’s statement to combat terrorism with terrorism.