ISLAMABAD Pakistan on Thursday said it will “soon” respond to a dossier handed over to it by India on “specific details” of involvement of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) in the deadly Pulwama attack as also the presence of camps of the UN-proscribed outfit in the country.
“It’s being evaluated and a response would be given soon,” Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Mohammad Faisal told reporters here.
The JeM had taken the responsibility of the attack in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on February 14, in which 49 CRPF personnel were killed. Tensions between India and Pakistan flared up after the attack.
India launched a counter-militancy operation in Balakot on February 26. The next day, Pakistan Air Force retaliated and downed a MiG-21 in an aerial combat and captured its pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who was handed over to India on March 1.
Responding to questions during his weekly media briefing, Faisal said Pakistan “defeated India militarily, diplomatically and politically in the ongoing border row, which has de-escalated over the past few days.”
“Our desire is peace but when we talk it is considered weakness,” he added.
On the Kartarpur corridor, Faisal said it was a project initiated by Prime Minister Imran Khan and Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, for which a Pakistani delegation will be visiting India on March 14.
He said India first suggested that meeting be held in New Delhi, which Pakistan accepted, however, the venue was later changed to Attari.
“Pakistan again agreed with Indian suggestion and if circumstances are not changed until March 14, then the Pakistani delegation will visit India,” he said.
India and Pakistan agreed to open up a special border crossing linking Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan’s Kartarpur – the final resting place of Sikh faith’s founder Guru Nanak Dev – to Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India’s Gurdaspur district to facilitate visa-free visit of Indian Sikh pilgrims to Kartarpur.
No one can make Pak ‘budge: Gen Bajwa
Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa Thursday said that no one can make his country “budge through use or threat of use of force” as the top military commanders reviewed current situation, amid heightened Indo-Pak tensions following the Pulwama attack.
Gen Bajwa, who chaired the 219th Corps Commanders conference in Rawalpindi, directed for “continued state of vigilance and alertness so as to be prepared for response to any threat”, state-run Radio Pakistan reported.
“Pakistan is on the positive trajectory of peace, stability and progress. No one can make us budge through use or threat of use of force,” he said.
The commanders expressed “strong will, resolve and determination to defend the country against any misadventure or aggression.”
The Generals expressed concern over the “targeting of civilians” along the Line of Control and said it should be stopped in the interest of regional peace.
They also discussed progress of the National Action Plan (NAP), which was prepared in response to a Taliban attack on an army school in Peshawar in 2014 that killed 150 people, mostly students.
Gen Bajwa directed to further the efforts in line with decisions of the government to accelerate implementation of NAP while rendering full assistance to other state institutions.
Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now
Be Part of Quality Journalism |
Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast. |
ACT NOW |
MONTHLY | Rs 100 | |
YEARLY | Rs 1000 | |
LIFETIME | Rs 10000 | |