–-Shehbaz Sharif says India shouldn’t confuse Pakistan’s ‘patience for weakness’
–Zardari says Pakistan capable of giving befitting response to India
LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Opposition Leader Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday urged the Indian leadership to “come to its senses and not plunge South Asia into war”.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president issued a statement following the blatant violation of Line of Control (LoC) by Indian military planes early Tuesday morning.
The invasion into the Pakistan air space follows a series of threats by the Indian political and military leadership after a suicide attack on an Indian Army convoy at Pulwama by a local youth, in reaction to the oppression unleashed by the occupational forces.
He called on Indian authorities to “rethink their war strategy” and told them that Pakistan would not hesitate in hoisting its flag in New Delhi if India initiated a war.
He said that Modi seems to be washing poor people’s feet on one hand and shedding the blood of innocent Kashmiris on the other.
“Instead of acting heedlessly, India should act reasonably and not plunge South Asia into a war,” he added. Moreover, he added, India shouldn’t assume that Pakistan isn’t capable of retaliating.
“Just because Pakistan is exercising patience, it doesn’t mean it is weak. Our armed forces are very skilled and the entire nation is proud of them standing behind them in support,” he said.
The NA opposition leader asserted that he will not hesitate to go to war and shed blood to protect Pakistan.
Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif expressed his concerns and condemned the Indian aircraft intrusion in Pakistani airspace. In a tweet, PML-N supremo’s daughter Maryam Nawaz said that during her meeting with Nawaz at the Koth Lakhpat Jail where he is serving his sentence in the Al-Aziziya reference case, the latter showed his concerns over the developments. She said that Nawaz also prayed to the Almighty to protect Pakistan from harm.
‘ARMED FORCES PREPARED TO RETALIATE’:
Former president Asif Ali Zardari said that India should not remain in any misconception as Pakistan was capable of giving a befitting response.
“Modi should not disturb regional peace only for the sake of winning elections. India should be prepared to bear the loss in case of an attack on Pakistan,” he remarked. He further said that each and every citizen of Pakistan stood in support of the army.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari strongly condemned Indian intrusion in Pakistani territory.
In a statement, Bilawal said, “India has chosen to respond to a home-grown, organic freedom fighters attack in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) by conducting an airstrike on Pakistan soil for the first time since 1971. This outrageous and unprecedented act of aggression should be condemned internationally. It is well within our right to retaliate.”
He further stated, “The whole nation stands with our brave soldiers who are ready to respond to any scenario. They risk their lives on a daily basis to keep us all safe. It is atrocious that the extremist government of the so-called largest democracy in the world would risk provoking a war between two nuclear-armed states to feed war hysteria at home and help with Modi’s re-election campaign.”
The PPP chairman stated that he was pleased that the opposition has called for a joint session of parliament, the appropriate forum for all decisions to be made. While the whole nation will stand united with whatever decision is taken, it is important for Pakistan to be cautious, he added.
Bilawal said that Pakistan does not want to play into Modi’s hands. “Proponents of peace in the region on both sides of the border must join in calling for sanity to prevail. The innocent people of Pakistan and India will be the collateral damage to any misadventure,” he added.
PPP Senator Sherry Rehman said that Pakistan’s armed forces are fully prepared to respond to India’s war song.
The parliament should send a loud and clear message that will befit India’s aggressive strategies, she added. She also called on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government to summon a joint parliamentary meeting without delay.
She asserted that the entire world should get to know that Pakistan wants peace and if a war is waged upon us, then we are prepared to fight.
PPP leader Khursheed Shah said that it would be a mistake to think that political differences have divided the political parties of Pakistan. “We stand united when it comes to matters of national security. Violation of the LoC by India is a warning. In case of another such attempt, immediate action should be taken,” he said.