Army doesn’t want war but will defend Pakistan till its last breath: ISPR

RAWALPINDI (92 News) – Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Major General Asif Ghafoor on Friday warned India over war threats, saying, “Pakistan Army does not want war but if India tries to initiate war Pakistan’s valiant forces will surprise you. Addressing a press conference, the director general ISPR denied reports regarding Pakistan preparing for war and said, “Pakistan is not preparing for war. Threats and reports of a war are coming from your side. We are only using our right to self defence.” Referring to India’s war threats after the February 14 Pulwama attack, Asif Ghafoor said that India has this habit of blaming Pakistan after terror attacks in Occupied Kashmir or in its own territory but if the eastern neighbour tries to initiate war Pakistan’s valiant “forces won’t be surprised but will surprise you (India)”. “There were lots of issues that I wanted to talk about today,” Maj Gen Ghafoor said: “But due to the situation after Pulwama, I will [only] be talking about that. “Right after the attack, India started raining accusations on Pakistan without thinking and without any evidence. Pakistan has, this time, taken out some time to respond. It is pertinent to mention here that India started showering blame on Pakistan right after the attack happened without thinking. Around 40 Indian paramilitary soldiers were killed in Indian-Administered Kashmir on February 14 in an attack India blames on Pakistan. However, Pakistan has denied India’s accusations. “We do not wish to go to war but please be rest assured should you [India] initiate any aggression, first you will never be able to surprise us. But let me assure you, we will surprise you. We shall also dominate the escalation ladder. Never think due to our commitments else where we will have any capacity lack,” the DG ISPR warned as he addressed Indian leadership's threats of waging war on Pakistan. “We have the will and determination, ways and means to reach our desired state. We can respond to a full spectrum threat. We hope you get this and don’t mess with Pakistan,” Major General Ghafoor asserted. “The prime minister made an offer to India which has never been made before. The premier offered to probe the India if actionable evidence is shared,” he maintained. “We hope India will wisely consider Pakistan's offer for peace.” “Before I talk more about this issue, I want to say some things,” he said. In 1965 our country was progressing but this war had negative impacts on our economy, he said, discussing the history of the conflict between India and Pakistan. In 1971, India took advantage of the situation in East Pakistan and the geographical distance between the two wings of the country, he said. Their role is well known, he added. The ISPR director general said there is a confessional statement by the sitting Indian premier on how they conspired to break the two sections of Pakistan apart. The real terrorism was committed when India tried to destabilize the situation in East Pakistan by helping Mukti Bahni, he said, adding that Pakistan is a resilient country, so we got through this situation. Between 1971 and 1984, there was no incident on our eastern border, he said. It was relatively a calmer situation, there were less cross border violations along the Line of Control and Pakistan started moving towards progress gradually, again, he said. However, then Siachen happened, he said. In 1998, we obtained nuclear power while in 2008 we were fighting a decisive war against militants and emerging successful so India started to mobilise its troops on the border." “Whenever the situation improves in Pakistan, India tries to destabilise the country,” the ISPR DG mentioned. “In February, when the Pulwama attack happened there were eight important events in Pakistan — Saudi crown prince's visit, Afghan reconciliation process, UNSC talking about terror financing, EU deliberating on human rights violations in occupied Kashmir, Kulbhushan Jadhav hearing, FATF hearing and decision on Pakistan, PSL and Kartarpur meeting. The elections are upcoming in India and the indigenous struggle in occupied Kashmir is high.” “How would Pakistan benefit from Pulwama attack in light of these events? Pakistan would be at a loss,” the military’s media wing head asked. He continued that the attack took place miles away from the LoC and the explosives used were not from Pakistan. He maintained that the car used was not from Pakistan either. The attack was carried out by a youngster from occupied Kashmir who was mistreated by Indian security forces. “People in Indian media and social media had predicted an attack like this prior to the elections.”

Pakistan is in diplomatic isolation?

While answering to the journalists question after briefing, to a question about whether Pakistan is in diplomatic isolation, the Pakistan Army spokesperson said, “You have seen how the heads and delegations of foreign countries are visiting.”

Two senior military officials are under arrest for espionage: ISPR

Speaking about former chief of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lieutenant General (retd) Asad Durrani, DG ISPR said, "He has been found guilty of violating the military code of conduct. His pension and other benefits have been stopped." “Two senior military officials are under arrest for espionage. They are not part of a network and the army chief has ordered their court martial,” he said.