Pakistan wishes peace despite all defence capabilities: Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor
DG ISPR press conference after Pakistan downs two Indian fighter jets.
ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) – Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Major General Asif Ghafoor addressed a press conference on Wednesday after Pakistan Air Force downed two Indian fighter jets and arrested their two pilots.
Giving details, the DG ISPR said Pakistan Air Force engaged six targets from across the Line of Control in Occupied Kashmir this morning.
He said Pak armed forces have capability, will, resolve, people backing and all resources. But being a responsible state, we decided that we will not aim any military target. We also wanted to ensure that no human loss or collateral damage is done during our engaging the targets. He said we selected six targets but we hit the areas close to them while keeping a safe distance, in order to demonstrate our capability. This action was purely in self-defense and with no aggressive designs.
Major General Asif Ghafoor said after taking the targets, two aircraft of Indian Air Force violated LoC and entered into Pakistani territory. PAF engaged them and both of these were shot down, with debris of one falling inside our territory and the other in Indian Occupied Kashmir. Two Indian pilots were taken into custody and they are being treated well. One is injured and is being provided proper medical care.
He said no F-16 of Pakistan was shot down in this action contrary to some reports by Indian media. He said no F-16 was engaged in this action.
Major General Asif Ghafoor said we wanted to show to Indians that we are capable of doing all things, but not at the peril of regional peace. We are a peaceful country and do not want to go to war.
He said we always conveyed peace to India and route to it goes through dialogue. War is failure of policy which India needs to understand. As our Prime Minister said it is easy to start war but difficult to conclude it. We do not want to escalate and are pursuing path of peace. It is also the responsibility of the international community to come forward and play its role as the war will cause irreparable damage to both the countries as well as the region.
Major General Asif Ghafoor further said that people of both countries as well as the region need to live in peace. We need to talk in order to provide our people of health, education and other facilities. T
He said the Government of India should consider our offer of dialogue with calm in order to take the region forward. Pakistan gives a message of peace and India should accept it for peace and stability in the region.
DG ISPR said our action today was in self-defense and we do not want to claim any victory on it. He urged the Pakistani media to continue its objective reporting and the one that leads to peace.
Responding to a question, he said if aggression was imposed on us we will definitely give a response under compulsion.
Earlier today, Major General Asif Ghafoor confirmed that one Indian pilot had been arrested by Pakistani troops on ground while two were in the area.
In a tweet, Major General Asif Ghafoor said, “In response to PAF strikes this morning as released by MoFA, IAF crossed LOC. PAF shot down two Indian aircrafts inside Pakistani airspace. One of the aircraft fell inside AJ&K while other fell inside IOK. One Indian pilot arrested by troops on ground while two in the area.”
In response to PAF strikes this morning as released by MoFA, IAF crossed LOC. PAF shot down two Indian aircrafts inside Pakistani airspace. One of the aircraft fell inside AJ&K while other fell inside IOK. One Indian pilot arrested by troops on ground while two in the area.
— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) February 27, 2019
