Pakistan says alert armed forces will respond ‘very strongly' to any Indian escalation
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar warned India on Wednesday that the country's armed forces are alert and would respond 'very strongly' to any escalation by New Delhi, amid fears of an all-out war breaking out between the nuclear-armed neighbors.
Tensions have surged between India and Pakistan following a deadly attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir on Apr. 22 that New Delhi has said Islamabad was involved in. Pakistan denies the charges and has said it will participate in any credible and transparent investigation of the assault.
Fears have risen since that India may retaliate by conducting limited airstrikes or special forces raids near the Line of Control (LoC), which runs 742km (460 miles) dividing the parts of Kashmir governed by India and Pakistan and acts as part of the de facto border between the two countries.
Speaking to reporters at a news conference with Pakistan's military spokesperson by his side, Dar said the world leaders he has spoken to in the past few days have urged Islamabad to exercise restraint.
'I have been making it very clear on behalf of our government, on behalf of the nation, Pakistan will not be the first one to resort to any escalatory move,' the deputy prime minister said.
'However, in case of any escalatory move by the Indian side, we will respond very strongly.'
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He said Pakistan's government and armed forces are alert to the possibility of any Indian military aggression.
'We are vigilant, our armed forces are vigilant and the nation will thwart any misadventure responding in a befitting and decisive manner at the time and place of our choosing,' he said.
Pakistan military spokesperson Lt. Gen. Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry agreed with Dar. He said the military is monitoring the situation carefully and that its countermeasures and responses 'in all domains are ready.'
'We are ready, do not test it,' Chaudhry warned.
PAKISTAN SAYS DESTROYED INDIAN POSTS
Fears of a military confrontation between the two sides heightened further after Pakistan's state media reported on Wednesday that Pakistan army troops responded to 'unprovoked' Indian shelling on Tuesday night across the de facto border that divides the disputed Kashmir region between the two nations.
PTV said India had carried out 'unprovoked' firing in the Kayani and Mandal sectors of the Line of Control on Tuesday night. Small arms were used by the Indian forces, prompting Pakistan to respond.
'There are also reports that multiple enemy posts were destroyed by the Pakistan Army's effective response,' PTV said, naming one of them as the Chakpathra post.
Earlier, the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan reported that the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) had 'forced' four Indian Rafale jets to retreat after patrolling near the two nations' de facto border.
'On the night of April 29/30, four Indian Rafale jets conducted patrolling within Indian geographical boundaries' near the LoC, APP reported, saying PAF 'immediately' detected the jets.
'A timely and swift response by the Pakistan Air Force forced four Indian Rafale jets to retreat … The Pakistani armed forces remain fully prepared and alert to give a befitting response to any aggression from India.'
Since last Tuesday's attack, in addition to shooting over the Line of Control frontier, India and Pakistan have announced tit-for-tat diplomatic measures that included the cancelation of visas and a recall of diplomats.
New Delhi also suspended a crucial water-sharing treaty with Islamabad and ordered its border shut with Pakistan. In response, Pakistan has closed its airspace to Indian airlines.
Late on Tuesday night, Pakistan's Information Minister Ataullah Tarar said Pakistan had 'credible intelligence' India was planning military action against it in the 'next 24-36 hours on the pretext of baseless and concocted allegations of involvement in the Pahalgam incident.'
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