Press Trust of India

Will respond ‘at the time and place of our choice’: Pakistan

Will respond ‘at the time and place of our choice’: Pakistan
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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday “strongly rejected” India’s claim” of targeting a militant camp near Balakot and causing heavy casualties even as it vowed to respond “at the time and place of its choosing” to what it called India’s “uncalled for aggression”.
At a special meeting of the National Security Committee hours after Indian air strikes in Balakot inside Pakistan, Prime Minister Imran Khan asked the armed forces and the people of Pakistan to remain prepared for all eventualities.
India bombed and destroyed Jaish-e-Mohammed’s biggest training camp in Pakistan early Tuesday, killing a “very large number” of terrorists, trainers and senior commanders, officials said in New Delhi.
“Forum (NSC) strongly rejected Indian claim of targeting an alleged terrorist camp near Balakot and the claim of heavy casualties. Once again Indian government has resorted to a self serving, reckless and fictitious claim,” said a statement issued after the NSC meeting in Islamabad.
It claimed that the “action has been done for domestic consumption being in election environment, putting regional peace and stability at grave risk.”
It also invited the world media to see the facts on ground and proposed a visit to the site.
“Forum concluded that India has committed uncalled for aggression to which Pakistan shall respond at the time and place of its choosing,” it added.
To take the nation on board, the government has decided to requisition a joint session of the Parliament, the statement said.
Khan will also engage with global leadership to “expose irresponsible” Indian policy in the region.
Meanwhile, Pakistan will raise the issue of India’s “violation” of the Line of Control (LoC) at the United Nations and other international forums.
The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan and attended by the top civil and military leadership, including Army chief General Qamar Jawed Bajwa, Geo TV reported.
“It was decided that the matter of Indian LoC violation be immediately raised at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the United Nations and with friendly countries,” the news channel said, citing sources.
In a swift and precise air strike following the Pulwama attack, India bombed and destroyed Jaish-e-Mohammed’s biggest training camp in Pakistan early Tuesday, killing a “very large number” of terrorists, trainers and senior commanders.
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi will make contact to raise the issue at international forums, sources added.
During the meeting, it was also decided that a joint session will be called to take the Parliament into confidence.
Qureshi briefed the participants of the meeting on the current situation in the wake of Indian air strikes on Jaish-e-Mohammed’s biggest camp in Pakistan early Tuesday.
Ahead of the meeting, Qureshi chaired an emergency consultative meeting at the Foreign Office.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, he said, Pakistan “holds the right to self-defence and a befitting response to Indian aggression.” (PTI)


Press Trust of India

Press Trust of India is lead news agency of India

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