News Desk |
Director General Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor says Pakistan armed forces are fully prepared to respond to any Indian misadventure. Talking to Dawn in the backdrop of recent jingoistic media coverage and anti-Pakistan statements by the Indian government, the armed forces spokesperson said the ongoing war-mongering by India had domestic reasons behind it.
“The armed forces of Pakistan are fully prepared for a befitting response to any misadventure from across the border,” Maj Gen Ghafoor told Dawn. He added that Pakistan armed forces’ preparedness was not because of the recent ‘rhetorical statements and false claims [by India]’ but due to their responsibility as professional forces and in view of the ‘perpetual threat’ from India. “Their warmongering is through media and for domestic reasons,” Maj Gen Ghafoor said.
India breached ceasefire along the LoC for a record 2,933 times in 2018, killing 58 people and injuring around 300 others. 2018’s casualty figure due to ceasefire violations by India was the highest in recent years.
There has been speculation about the possible escalation of hostilities along the Line of Control (LoC) by India given the desperation of the Modi-led BJP government to win the upcoming general elections in India. The ruling party in New Delhi is under pressure after it recently lost three key states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to the Rahul Gandhi-led Congress party.
Recently, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave an interview in which he said: “It will be a big mistake to think that Pakistan will mend its ways after one fight.” Modi’s remarks were followed by the usual jingoistic reporting by a section of the Indian media. Some in the Indian media also claimed that Pakistan was planning a cross-border raid for which mobilization had been done.
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Many believe that the Modi-led Indian government is deliberately shaping the anti-Pakistan environment ahead of the polls to divert and polarize voters. “There is always a readiness, especially along LAC and LoC. Both sides are already in deployment in these areas. And there isn’t let-up for a befitting response to any of their miscalculated misadventure.”
It is pertinent to note that the situation along the LoC has worsened and ceasefire violations increased under the Modi government. India breached ceasefire along the LoC for a record 2,933 times in 2018, killing 58 people and injuring around 300 others. 2018’s casualty figure due to ceasefire violations by India was the highest in recent years.
Read more: 3 Pakistani civilians injured after India violates ceasefire
There is also an ongoing indigenous uprising in the Indian occupied Kashmir which led to countless human rights violations by Indian troops in the disputed territory. When asked about the channels of communication between the two armies across the LoC, Maj Gen Ghafoor said the weekly hotline between the two DGMOs and border flag meetings were taking place as per routine.