Fire stoked by India ‘could engulf region’

Minister calls Indian army chief’s statement irresponsible

ISLAMABAD: Terming Indian army chief’s statement irresponsible, a federal minister said on Sunday that it amounted to ‘stoking fire that could engulf the entire region.’

“Such irresponsible statements have the potential to prove detrimental to peace in South Asia. India is well aware of Pakistan’s capability to offer a full-scale response to any misadventure. No one must be mistaken,” said Kashmir Affairs Minister Chaudhry Barjees Tahir.

Earlier on Friday, Indian army chief Bipin Rawat said the Indian army was ready to call Pakistan’s nuclear bluff.



“We will call the nuclear bluff of Pakistan. If we will have to really confront the Pakistanis, and a task is given to us, we are not going to say we cannot cross the border because they have nuclear weapons. We will have to call their nuclear bluff,” Indian media quoted Rawat as having said during a press conference.

This attracted a strong rejoinder from Pakistan Army’s media wing Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR).

“We are a professional army, responsible nuclear state and resilient nation and they (India) must not remain in illusion,” Director-General of ISPR Maj-Gen Asif Ghafoor told state-run television channel on Saturday.

“Such statements are unbecoming of a person of responsible stature,” he said of Indian army chief’s statement. “We have a credible nuclear capability exclusively meant for threat from east but we believe it’s a weapon of deterrence not a choice,” Maj-Gen Ghafoor said.



Kashmir affairs minister also did not mince words when he highlighted Pakistan’s nuclear capability. “We are a responsible nuclear power and maintain a level of deterrence. Pakistan’s nuclear capability safeguards impregnable defence against India.”

Barjees Tahir said India is stoking terrorism in Pakistan in a bid to foil China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project. “On one hand, India is patronising worst kind of state-sponsored terrorism in the Indian-held Kashmir and on the other hand Indian forces are repeatedly martyring civilians at the Line of Control (LoC). India’s thirst for the blood of innocents is insatiable.”

Accusing Indian forces of violating the ceasefire agreement on the LoC more than 70 times since the start of this year, the minister said that several civilians and soldiers had lost their lives as result of Indian aggression which also caused damage to property.

“The capture of Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav unveils India’s evil designs in Pakistan. India’s dream to create hegemony in this region would never materialise. Any aggression on part of India would attract a befitting response. Indian government and military should not be mistaken. I warn them.”

He demanded of international community to take notice of Indian army chief’s statement and to play its role for stopping the bloodshed in the occupied Valley as well as resolution of the Kashmir issue in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people.