Consequences will be uncontrollable if war erupts between Pakistan, India: DG ISPR
Any misadventure by enemies will always be defeated: DG ISPR Major General Babar Iftikhar.
RAWALPINDI (Dunya News) – Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Major General Babar Iftikhar has on Thursday said the consequences will be uncontrollable if war erupts between nuclear armed neighbors, Pakistan and India.
The DG ISPR addressed a press conference to commemorate the first anniversary of the Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) Operation Swift Retort – a retaliatory attack after India’s botched Balakot airstrike and said, “Whenever difficult time has come, people of Pakistan and Pakistan Army have faced it bravely.
“Pakistan and India were on the verge of war when our neighbor leveled allegations on Islamabad without any proof for the Pulwama attack which was held on February 14, 2019.
“Pakistan showed responsible behavior and offered help in interrogating the Pulwama incident because truth is spoken once.
Response in Daylight
“Enemy was surprised by Pakistan’s response in daylight. We not only downed two Indian planes but also captured its pilot. India shot down its own helicopter in panic.
“February 27 is a bright chapter in Pakistan’s history and every Pakistani is proud of it as we successfully defended our motherland and defeated the enemy.
“This day is dedicated to all those martyrs who sacrificed their lives since independence and all the ghazis who defended Pakistan. The whole nation pays tribute to their families as well.
“This is a day of thanksgiving that the armed forces of Pakistan fulfilled the nations expectations; and of determination to always remain prepared for the covert and the overt conspiracies of the enemy.
LoC Violations
“India is a threat to the regional peace. The most number of ceasefire violations by India across the Line of Control (LoC) in past 17 years were reported in 2019 and the most number of casualties were reported in 2018.
“Pakistan Army has always given befitting reply to Indian aggression across the LoC and inflicted heavy casualties and damage to infrastructure. The difference is that Pakistan aims only military targets whereas India harms civilians.
“India is making irresponsible statements and we are taking everything very seriously. The consequences will be uncontrollable if war erupts between nuclear armed Pakistan and India.
Kashmir Dispute
“India has not accepted Pakistan’s existence since independence and recent statements of Indian leadership have reiterated this fact.
“New Delhi is committing atrocities in India-occupied Jammu and Kashmir and the illegal and unconstitutional step of August 5 of scraping the autonomy of the held valley has worsened the situation.
“Life is paralyzed in IOJK where a campaign of genocide is being run along with communication blackout.
“Kashmir is not only an ideological and geographical dispute, it has now become a human rights issue at international level where Pakistan has exposed India. Protests are being held against the Indian brutalities in IOJK within and outside.
“Pakistan will continue to draw international attention towards the Kashmir dispute as its solution is in our national interest.
War on Terrorism
“Pakistan has been fighting war against terrorism for twenty years and Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad is its continuity for past three years. We have played our role for the regional and international peace.
Pakistan’s Aim
“War against terrorism is a hard earned success for Pakistan. We have lost 80,000 lives and over $180 billion to the economy. We have moved from terrorism to tourism and defeated the militants’ narrative.
“[International] sports have come back to Pakistan. Our aim now is stable, peaceful and normalized Pakistan. We will defeat all attempts against Pakistan’s stability, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“Minorities are secure here and United Nations Secretary General (UNSG) Antonio Guterres acknowledged it while visiting Kartarpur.”
Earlier, Major General Babar Iftikhar said that Pakistan’s response to India on February 27, 2019 is a proof that any misadventure by our enemies will always be defeated.
The DG ISPR tweeted, “27 Feb commemorates resolve of Pakistan Armed Forces against any aggression. The way we responded on this day is a proof that any misadventure by enemies of Pakistan will always be defeated. Our adversaries will be surprised with our bold responses every time.”
27 Feb commemorates resolve of Pakistan Armed Forces against any aggression. The way we responded on this day is a proof that any misadventure by enemies of Pakistan will always be defeated. Our adversaries will be surprised with our bold responses every time.#SurpriseDay
— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) February 27, 2020
It is pertinent here to mention that Pakistan is celebrating Surprise Day today to commemorate Operation Swift Retort. A ceremony was held at the Air Headquarters where Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan addressed and said that the PAF is and would remain reassuring fundamental of national defence.
A splendid air show was also organised by the PAF at Karachi’s sea view. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and Governor Imran Ismail were chief guests in the event. On the occasion, PAF fighter planes JF-17 Thunder and F-16, performed flying maneuvers.
Operation Swift Retort
On Feb 27, last year, the PAF carried out Operation Swift Retort and shot down two Indian Air Force fighter aircrafts and dropped bombs within the compounds of Indian military facilities in occupied Kashmir as a warning to the country’s belligerent neighbor.
The Pakistani military had lived up to its promise to ‘surprise’ India in wake of any misadventure, saying that ‘uncalled-for aggression’ from the Indian military ‘would not go unpunished’.
The operation also resulted in the capture of an Indian pilot, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, after his Mig-21 was shot down. The pilot was later handed over to Indian authorities as ‘a goodwill gesture’.
