ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is “ready for war” and capable of responding to any foreign aggression, military spokesman Maj. Gen. Asif Ghafoor said on Saturday.
“We are ready for war but choose to walk the path of peace in the interest of the people of Pakistan, the neighbors and the region,” he said.
Earlier on Saturday, Indian Army Chief Gen. Bipin Rawat threatened to take “stern action” in response to the killing of an Indian Border Security Force (BSF) soldier. “I think the other side (Pakistan) must also feel the same pain,” he said.
Rawat’s statement came a day after India called off talks between the two countries’ foreign ministers, citing the killing of the BSF soldier as one of the reasons.
Ghafoor called Rawat’s statement “irresponsible,” saying: “India should not disturb the peace process.”
Ghafoor said Pakistan is a nuclear power, and its desire for peace should not be misconstrued as weakness.
Islamabad’s “offer still stands for India to come forward and hold talks with us,” he added, denying that the Pakistani Army was responsible for the killing of the BSF soldier.
Pakistani Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Saturday tweeted that India is resorting to “warmongering” to deflect attention from “increasing calls” for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s resignation over corruption allegations.
The president of the opposition Pakistan Muslim League — Nawaz (PML-N), Shehbaz Sharif, said the world should immediately take note of India’s threatening posture.
“Pakistan extending an olive branch to India, should never be misconstrued as weakness,” he tweeted.
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan tweeted on Saturday: “Disappointed at the arrogant and negative response by India to my call for resumption of the peace dialogue. However, all my life I have come across small men occupying big offices who do not have the vision to see the larger picture.”
Pakistan ready to respond to foreign aggression — Army spokesman
Pakistan ready to respond to foreign aggression — Army spokesman
- Desire for peace should not be misconstrued as our weakness, says Pakistan military spokesman
- We reject warmongering by ruling elite of India, Pakistan’s information minister says
Pakistan president meets UAE counterpart, explores trade, investment opportunities
- Asif Ali Zardari is in UAE on four-day visit to strengthen bilateral ties, review bilateral cooperation
- Both sides discuss regional, international developments, reaffirm commitment to promote peace
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari met his UAE counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday during which both sides explored new opportunities in trade, investment, energy and other sectors, Zardari's office said.
Zardari arrived in Abu Dhabi on Monday evening with a high-level delegation on a four-day official visit to the UAE to review trade, economic and security cooperation.
"The leaders discussed ways to further deepen the longstanding and brotherly relations between Pakistan and the UAE," a statement from Zardari's office said about his meeting with the UAE president.
"They reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral cooperation and explored new opportunities in trade, investment, energy, infrastructure, technology, and people-to-people exchanges, highlighting the significant potential for expanding economic and strategic partnership.
Zardari highlighted the significance of Al-Nayhan's visit to Pakistan last month, the statement said, expressing appreciation for the UAE's continued support for strengthening bilateral ties.
It said both sides also exchanged views on a range of regional and international developments, reaffirming their commitment to promoting peace, stability and sustainable development.
The meeting was also attended by Pakistan's First Lady Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari, the Pakistani president's son Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, who is also the chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Pakistan's ambassador to the UAE.
ZARDARI MEETS AD PORTS CEO
Zardari earlier met AD Ports Group CEO Captain Mohamed Juma Al-Shamisi to discuss the group's investment initiatives in Karachi.
"Both sides agreed that the expansion and modernization of port infrastructure would strengthen trade flows and support Pakistan’s broader economic development and country’s seaborne trade," the President's Secretariat said in a statement.
It added that Zardari described the AD Ports Group's long-term investment and expanding role in Pakistan's maritime and logistics sector as a key pillar of Pakistan–UAE economic cooperation.
Pakistan and the UAE maintain close political and economic relations, with Abu Dhabi playing a pivotal role in supporting Islamabad during periods of financial stress through deposits, oil facilities and investment commitments.
The UAE is Pakistan's third-largest trading partner, after China and the United States, and a key destination for Pakistani exports, particularly food, textiles and construction services.
The Gulf state is also home to more than 1.5 million Pakistani expatriates, one of the largest overseas Pakistani communities in the world, who contribute billions of dollars annually in remittances, a crucial source of foreign exchange for Pakistan’s economy.
Beyond trade and labor ties, Pakistan and the UAE have steadily expanded defense and security cooperation over the years, including military training, joint exercises and collaboration in counter-terrorism and regional security matters.
