Panicked Pak kicks up war hysteria

 

 

AMID looming fears of strong action from India in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistan Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar held an emergency press meet at 2 am on Wednesday, saying that there were ‘Intelligence reports of military action against their country within the next 24 to 36 hours’. Tarar’s statement comes soon after the recent statement by Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who had stated a “military incursion from India was imminent”. Asif had also warned that Pakistan would only use its nuclear weapons if there were a direct threat to the country’s existence from India. The statement from Pakistan side came hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday told the top defence brass that the Armed Forces have “complete operational freedom” to decide on the mode, targets and timing of India’s response to the Pahalgam terror attack, Government sources said.

 

Addressing an emergency press conference, Tarar said, “We have credible Intelligence-based information that India is planning a military offensive against Pakistan within the next 24 to 36 hours. Any action by India will be responded to with full force,” he said. “Pakistan will defend its territory at all costs and will respond with its full might. The nation will defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity by all means necessary. If India tries to impose a war on Pakistan, it will be solely responsible for the disastrous and devastating costs,” he added. Tarar also called on the international community to take note of India’s “planned aggression” against Pakistan, stating that even though Islamabad offered cooperation in a neutral and credible investigation, New Delhi has not provided any proof of Islamabad’s involvement in the Pahalgam attack.

 

The late-night emergency press conference by Pakistan’s Information Minister has come amid heavy military deployments by both sides on their borders, while the political temperature is rising every passing hour. Both sides have unleashed a range of measures against each other, with Pakistan closing its airspace for Indian airlines and India putting the crucial and critical Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance, among other measures. Meanwhile, sources in the country’s military establishment said on Wednesday that Pakistani Navy vessels, including its frigates and submarines, have already positioned themselves in their respective harbours in the sea to be able to tackle any possible Indian movement.

 

The Pakistan Air Force has reduced flying operations by over 50 per cent, and only essential operations are being conducted to avoid confusion in the airspace, sources said. In another instance, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, stated in the National Assembly that it was under Pakistan pressure that the name of the resistance forum (TRF), a Lashkar offshoot, was deleted from the UNSC statement on Pahalgam, proving once again Pakistan’s tacit support to terror operatives.