Nawaz Sharif: Don't interpret Pakistan's desire for peace as weakness

Islamabad: Strongly condemning "unprovoked and naked aggression" by India along the LoC, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday said Pakistan's armed forces are fully capable of defending the territorial integrity of the country.

Sharif also warned that Pakistan's intent for peaceful neighbourhood should not be mistaken as its weakness, Radio Pakistan reported.

He said Pakistan can thwart any "evil design" to undermine its sovereignty.

He strongly condemned the "unprovoked and naked aggression of Indian forces along the Line of Control". Meanwhile the Pakistan military said two of its soldiers were killed in ceasefire violation by India along the LoC today.

"There has been no surgical strike by India, instead there had been a cross-border firing initiated and conducted by India which is existential phenomena. As per rules of engagement, same was strongly and befittingly responded by Pakistan. The notion of surgical strike linked to alleged terrorist bases is an illusion being deliberately generated by Indian Army to create false effects. This quest by Indian establishment to create media hype by re-branding cross border fire as surgical strike is fabrication of truth. Pakistan has made it clear that it there is a surgical strike on Pakistani soil, same will be strongly condemned," the entire statement read.

Sharif paid rich tributes to jawans who have been killed in the firing.

Indian Army carried out ‘surgical strikes’ on Wednesday to prevent Pakistani terrorists who were ‘positioned at launch pads along the Line of Control with aim to carry out strikes in Jammu and Kashmir and other metros’, the Army said on Thursday.

“Pakistan is guilty of increasing infiltration by terrorists along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir and even the recently captured terrorists have confessed to their training and arming in Pakistan. The Global positioning systems (GPS) recovered from them established their Pakistani connect,” said Lt General Ranbir Singh, Director General of Military Operations (DGMO).

These surgical strikes are the first major military action taken by India against Pakistan after the Uri attack in which 18 soldiers were killed as terrorists from Pakistan crossed into an Army camp earlier this month. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had pledged that the attack will not go unpunished.

President, Vice President, Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Jammu and Kashmir Governor and J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti were briefed on the surgical strikes by the Indian Army.

The surgical strikes coordinated by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval along with Army chief, were carried out in Bhimber, Hot Spring, Kel and Lipa sectors.

According to reports, special commandos of the Indian Army entered 3 kms inside Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir for the operation and total six terror camps were demolished.

DGMO said there has been continuing and increasing infiltration across the Line of Control and the same is reflected in attacks in Poonch and Uri.
“Infiltration of terrorists across Line of Control has been a matter of serious concern. Almost 20 infiltration attempts have been foiled by Army successfully this year,” said Ranbir Singh.

He further said that India’s intention is to maintain peace and tranquillity in the region but certainly can’t allow terrorists to operate along LoC and we expect the Pakistan army to cooperate with us with a view to erase menace of terrorism.