ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s army chief warned India not to make “provocative statements” and reminded New Delhi of cease-fire violations.
The army’s publicity unit quoted Qamar Javed Bajwa as he was visiting the de facto border between Pakistan and India in Kashmir on Wednesday.
Pakistan’s army was a professional and combat-hardened army, ready to defend its motherland, according to Bajwa.
“It would be better if they (India) realize this and place their stock in peace and progress through dialogue,” he was quoted as saying.
His remarks follow comments from India’s army chief Bipin Rawat, who said Pakistan’s continued support for cross-border terror activity targeting Indian-held territory could force his country to take action.
He accused the Pakistani army of firing across the border to distract Indian forces so terrorists could infiltrate the disputed Kashmir region.
Rawat warned: “If you carry out such acts, we will not hesitate to cross the border and destroy terror camps. But if the messaging did not have the desired effect, then it’s time to raise the ante,” he said, referring to controversial military strikes against Pakistan in 2016.
“This is just (repeat) Indian drum beating,” said Khalid Muhammad from security consultancy Command Eleven, “nothing more than that. Rawat’s term is coming to an end and he’s pro (Narendra) Modi. He is ramping up pressure against Pakistan (for Modi) to win in the upcoming Indian elections.”
Modi hopes to secure a second term in office and “he cannot afford to lose the vote of Hindu nationalists and when he focuses on them, he needs” to toe an “anti-Muslim, anti-Pakistan” narrative Dr. Zafar Jaspal told Arab News.
Islamabad has countered Indian accusations of state-sponsored terrorism, calling them a “smear campaign against Pakistan and the deliberate creation of war hysteria.”
Foreign ministry spokesman Dr. Muhammed Faisal said “the presence of (Indian) Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav having been caught red-handed in Balochistan” was “ample evidence” of Indian terrorism.
Pakistan army chief warns India not to beat war drum
Pakistan army chief warns India not to beat war drum
- Border skirmishes at LoC continue between rivals
- Pakistan claims ‘Indian terrorism’ following Balochistan arrest
Curfew extended in Gilgit-Baltistan, probe ordered after deadly Khamenei protests
- At least 15 people were killed in clashes with law enforcement agencies over the weekend in Gilgit-Baltistan
- Government also announces a de-weaponization campaign, crackdown on hate speech and cybercrime in region
ISLAMABAD: The government in Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) region on Tuesday extended a curfew in Gilgit district and ordered a judicial probe into violent protests over the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes last week, an official said.
At least 15 people were killed in clashes with law enforcement agencies over the weekend in GB, where protesters torched and vandalized several buildings, including United Nations regional offices, an army-run school, software technology park and a local charity building.
The violence prompted regional authorities to impose curfew in Gilgit and Skardu districts on March 2-4 as officials urged people to stay indoors and cooperate with law enforcers, amid widespread anger in Pakistan, particularly among members of the Shiite minority, over Khamenei’s killing.
On Tuesday, the GB government convened to review the situation and announced the extension of curfew in Gilgit among a number of security measures as well as ordered the establishment of a judicial commission to investigate the weekend violence in the region.
“The government has made it clear that the law will strictly take its course against elements involved in vandalism at government institutions, private properties and incidents of vandalism in Gilgit and Skardu and no kind of mischief will be tolerated,” Shabbir Mir, a GB government spokesperson, said in a statement.
“In view of the security situation, curfew will remain in force in Gilgit, while the decision to extend the curfew in Skardu will be taken keeping the ground realities and the changing situation in view.”
The statement did not specify how long the curfew will remain in place in Gilgit.
Besides the formation of the judicial commission to investigate the violent clashes, the government also decided to launch a large-scale de-weaponization campaign in the entire Gilgit district, for which relevant institutions have been directed to immediately complete all necessary arrangements, according to Mir.
In addition, a crackdown has been ordered on hate speech, spread of fake news and cybercrime.
“The aim of these decisions is to ensure the rule of law, protect the lives and property of citizens and crack down on miscreants,” he said. “Approval has also been given to immediately survey the affected infrastructure and start their restoration work on priority basis.”
Demonstrators in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi also stormed the US Consulate on Sunday, smashing windows and attempting to burn the building. Police responded with batons, tear gas, and gunfire, leaving 10 people dead and more than 50 injured.
Pakistani authorities have since beefed up security at US diplomatic missions across the country, including around the US consulate building in Peshawar, to avoid any further violence.
