ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is ready to effectively respond to any misadventure or aggression by Indian forces with the full support of the nation, Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Sunday as he vowed to stand by the people of Kashmir and continue to provide them moral, political and diplomatic support.
The prime minister made these remarks while chairing a meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) that was held to discuss recent escalation along the Line of Control and India’s use of cluster munition against civilians in Azad Kashmir.
Kashmir has surged back into the spotlight in recent days after New Delhi deployed at least 10,000 troops to the region and ordered foreign tourists and pilgrims to vacate the area citing an imminent threat of a suicide bombing.
“Pakistan will always stand with Kashmiris and will not be deterred from its just stance based on the [United Nations Security Council] resolutions and aspirations of Kashmiri people,” the prime minister said after chairing the meeting that was also attended by the three services chiefs, director-general Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and senior federal cabinet members.
Since 1947, Kashmir, a Muslim-majority region with 86,000 square miles of territory, remains disputed between India and Pakistan. Both countries claim it in full but only control parts of it. The two nations have also fought wars over the territory, but the dispute continues to linger on.
The NSC was briefed on India’s use of “cluster munitions against civilians to provoke Pakistan” and it also focused on New Delhi’s intent to change the demographic structure and the internationally recognized disputed status of Indian-administered Kashmir.
“The recent buildup of [Indian] forces [in Kashmir] and their brutal use against an unarmed population is adding fuel to fire,” the NSC said in a statement. “The forum strongly condemned such Indian strategy at this time when Pakistan and the international community are focused on resolving the Afghan conflict.”
The NSC noted that the recent Indian measures would increase the levels of violence and turn the area into a flashpoint and a destabilizing factor in the midst of two strategically capable neighboring countries.
“India is totally disregarding international obligations and her arrogance will only result in heightening the conflict dynamics in the region,” the prime minister said while inviting the attention of world leaders and international bodies toward “irresponsible, unilateral and irrational behavior” of Indian leadership.
The prime minister also reaffirmed Pakistan’s resolve “to respond to any Indian misadventure or aggression with the full support of the nation.”
Renowned defense analyst General (r) Talat Masood said the Line of Control had become “very volatile” due to “India’s unprovoked firing on the civilian population across the border and its recent troop buildup in Kashmir to suppress the people struggling for their right to self-determination.”
“Both the countries should start talking to each other to cool off the Line of Control and prevent a full-scale armed conflict for the peace of the whole region,” he told Arab News.
Pakistan vows to stand by Kashmiris, respond to ‘Indian misadventures’
Pakistan vows to stand by Kashmiris, respond to ‘Indian misadventures’
- Condemns India’s decision to raise tensions in Kashmir at a time when the world is trying to resolve Afghan conflict
- Analysts urge the two South Asian nuclear neighbors to prevent a full-scale armed conflict in the region
Military says 8 militants killed in security operation in Pakistan’s southwest
- Security forces conducted intelligence-based operation in Kalat district on Dec. 24, says Pakistan military
- Pakistan military says weapons, explosives, ammunition recovered from slain “Indian-sponsored terrorists”
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s military media wing said on Wednesday that security forces had gunned down eight militants in the southwestern Balochistan province, vowing to eliminate militancy from the country.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing, said security forces carried out an intelligence-based operation in Balochistan’s Kalat district on Dec. 24 on the reported presence of “terrorists belonging to Indian proxy, Fitna al Hindustan.”
“During the conduct of operation, own forces effectively engaged the terrorists’ location, and after an intense fire exchange, eight Indian sponsored terrorists were sent to hell,” the ISPR said.
The military said weapons, ammunition and explosives were recovered from the slain militants, adding that they were actively involved in “numerous terrorist activities.”
“Security Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies of Pakistan will continue at full pace to wipe out menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country,” the military’s media wing said.
Pakistan’s military and government frequently accuse India of supporting militant activities in its western provinces bordering Afghanistan, including Balochistan.
India denies the allegations and accuses Pakistan of supporting militant groups in the part of the Himalayan territory of Kashmir that New Delhi administers.
Balochistan has been the site of a low-level insurgency for decades now, where ethnic Baloch militant groups demand independence from Pakistan. These militant groups accuse Islamabad of denying locals a share in Balochistan’s mineral wealth, charges the military and government deny.
Islamabad has also accused Afghanistan of sheltering militants and facilitating attacks that take place on its soil. Kabul denies these allegations and says it cannot be held responsible for security lapses in Pakistan.
