Pakistan warns India against any ‘misadventure’
ISLAMABAD : A day after the Indian Army vowed to avenge the killing of four soldiers by Pakistani forces, the neighbouring country’s Defence Minister, Khurram Dastagir, warned India of a “response” in case of a “misadventure” by it.
This comes a day after the Indian Army vowed to avenge the killing of four soldiers in ceasefire violation
by Pakistan in Rajouri sector of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday. Army Vice Chief Sarath Chand said on Monday that India would give a befitting reply to Pakistan and its action will speak for itself.
Dastagir’s remarks came during a Kashmir Solidarity Day gathering at the President House here yesterday which was hosted by President Mamnoon Hussain.
“They [India] may have the right to start an [unprovoked] misadventure but the right to respond, at what level and with what magnitude will be reserved by us,” The Express Tribune quoted Dastagir. .
He also said that Pakistan was committed to the 2003 ceasefire agreement with India but said that it should not be interpreted as weakness to respond in case of a war. “Our commitment to abide by the ceasefire agreement is not a response limitation,” the Defence Minister said.
The Pakistan minister further claimed that the Indian forces were involved in crimes against humanity in Kashmir. “It makes it incumbent on me to demand that there must be an international enquiry to determine the exact spectre of the crimes being committed by the Indian forces in Kashmir,” he said.
Speaking at another event, the defence minister said that Islamabad retains the right to decide the measure and modicum of response to ceasefire violations by India. Meanwhile, Pakistan also accused India of targeting and killing civilians along the Line of Control (LoC), and even summoned Indian deputy high commissioner JP Singh to register a protest.
A statement issued by the foreign office of Pakistan alleged that India violated ceasefire on Sunday in Nezapir, Nikial and Karela sectors. The country further claimed that India has resorted to as many as 190 ceasefire violations in 2018 so far and killed 13 civilians.
“That (retaliation) goes without saying. I think I don’t have to say that. Action will speak for itself. We will continue with our process of giving a befitting reply,” said Chand while speaking to mediapersons.
On Sunday, four Army personnel, including a Captain, were killed while four persons got injured after Pakistani troops opened “unprovoked and indiscriminate” firing across the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch and Rajouri districts.(With Agency Inputs ).
