Gen Bajwa lauds army’s ‘befitting response’ to India during February stand-off

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RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Wednesday hailed the befitting response Pakistan’s military gave during the February standoff with India and said that the armed forces remain fully capable and ready to respond to any threat for defence of motherland.

The army chief said this while presiding over the two-day-long Annual Formation Commanders’ Conference held at the General Headquarters, according to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Wednesday. “All general officers of Pakistan Army attended,” it added.

The forum reviewed geo-strategic and national security environment. Internal security landscape of the country, challenges being confronted and responses were discussed in detail.

The army chief also appreciated the successes being achieved in ongoing operation Raddul Fasaad to carry forward the gains made thus far towards enduring peace and stability in the country.
The forum pledged to continue all its efforts to serve the country.

Tensions escalated dramatically between Pakistan and India on February 14 when a Kashmiri youth rammed an explosives-laden car into an Indian military convoy, killing at least 44 soldiers.

India was quick to blame the state of Pakistan for the suicide bombing. Prime Minister Imran Khan offered every possible help in the investigation, but India turned down the offer and whipped up war hysteria.

On February 26, the Indian Air Force (IAF) violated Pakistani airspace. The country’s top civil and military leadership declared the violation of airspace by Indian fighter jets “uncalled for aggression” and decided that the country would respond at a “time and place of its choosing”.

A day later, Pakistan retaliated with similar air strikes that led to dogfight, leaving two Indian warplanes downed. Pakistan also captured an Indian pilot but released it within 72 hours as gesture of peace.