Army says India will get surprise if it attacked Pakistan

Rawalpindi: Pakistan Army Friday said it does not want war with India, but if India started aggression it should be ready for a surprise. Briefing the media in Rawalpindi, Director General Inter Services Public Relations, Major General Asif Ghafoor said the response of Pakistan Army will be different from Indian expectations, as we are a battle-hardened army and know the capability of neighboring country well. The DG ISPR said Pakistan has already clarified that it has nothing to do with Pulwama attack, as the attacker, explosive devices, and planning were indigenous. He said Prime Minister Imran Khan has already offered India to provide concrete evidence, if any, regarding the attack, and Pakistan will take decisive action, not due to any external pressure, but in its own interest. He said Prime Minister also offered India to hold talks even on the issue of terrorism, which is a scourge for the whole region and detrimental to peace. He expressed the hope that India will respond to this offer in a positive way and should not become hindrance in the way of development and progress of the region. The DG ISPR questioned as to how Pakistan could have any link to this issue, when there were eight significant events for Pakistan both at home and abroad. Saudi Crown Prince was visiting, there was a discussion due on terror listing in the UNSC, Afghan peace talks were ongoing and there were developments in the European Union and the United Nations on human rights violations in Occupied Kashmir. There was also the hearing in International Court of Justice regarding Kulbhushan Jadhav, the FATF hearing, a meeting on Kartarpur border as well as PSL matches. Major General Asif Ghafoor said apart from this, there is an election campaign in India, and the freedom struggle in Occupied Kashmir is at its peak and out of India’s hands. He said a pattern can be seen whenever there is election in India, situation on the Pak-India border and Occupied Kashmir is deteriorated. The DG ISPR said the biggest danger to regional peace is unresolved issue of Kashmir. He said people in Kashmir have reached to such a point where they are no more fearful of death. He said India needs retrospect to this situation and come to the dialogue table to resolve the issue peacefully. He said India’s claim of biggest democracy in the world cannot be true due to its worst human rights abuses in the Occupied Kashmir. Major General Asif Ghafoor said democracies do not go to war, and both the countries can move forward on the path of development and peace. He said if India is serious in peace, stability and prosperity of the region, it should stop sending likes of Kulbhushan to Pakistan. Regarding Pakistan’s fight against terrorism, Major General Asif Ghafoor said Pakistan has achieved calm and stability after hardwork and numerous successes of the security forces against militancy and it can ill afford any distraction. He said security forces have effectively averted many terrorist attacks in intelligence based operations. He said fencing along Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan is continuing, which has proved effective in illegal crossings. Major General Asif Ghafoor appreciated Pakistani media for its cautious and careful reporting regarding Pulwama attack, which is significantly in contrast with the war journalism, the India media has been conducting. He informed that an inquiry against Lieutenant General (Retired) Assad Durrani has found him guilty of violating military code of conduct. He said Assad Durrani’s pension and related benefits have been stopped. The DG ISPR also apprised journalists that two military officers have been arrested on charges of espionage and the Army Chief has ordered their court martial.