ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan Wednesday said that the nation responded to Indian aggression in February 2019 in a mature way.
Addressing a ceremony held in the federal capital to commemorate ‘Pakistan’s Responsible and Resolute Response to Indian Aggression’ of February 26 last year, the prime minister said the country is prepared for India’s transgression.
Prime Minister Khan said Pakistan was aware through intelligence reports that India planned to show some form of belligerence following the Pulwama attack in Indian-occupied Kashmir. “We were ready,” he said, adding that Pakistan’s entire response to Indian bombing within its territory was that of a mature country.
Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan, ministers and other officials were also present on the occasion.
“I was very proud of how the Pakistani people dealt with the crisis,” the prime minister said. “The fact that the crisis did not aggravate and the situation didn’t worsen only shows the maturity of the Pakistani nation.”
On Feb 26, 2019, Indian planes violated Pakistani airspace and conducted air strikes inside Pakistani territory. In retaliation the next day, the Pakistan Air Force shot down two Indian fighter jets and captured Indian pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. Prime Minister Imran later decided that Pakistan would release the pilot as a peace gesture.
The premier said that the Pakistan armed forces had acted “with restraint” in response to India’s moves while the Pakistani media displayed maturity. In contrast, he said, the Indian media and politicians were beating the drums of war.
“We could have panicked … and responded to the Indian bombing on the spot. But we waited, realised the next day that there had been no casualties and then responded accordingly,” he recalled.
He also lauded the political parties in the National Assembly for coming onto the same page in the wake of the Pakistan-India tensions despite their differences.
The prime minister said India today has set out on a “very dangerous path” from where it is very difficult to return.
“History shows that only bloodshed follows the kind of racist, totalitarian and fascist RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) ideology adopted by [India],” he remarked.
He said the Hindutva philosophy prevailing in India is spreading hatred against Muslims and Christians and its next target will be other Indian minorities.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan Wednesday reiterated the resolve to take Pakistan-Egypt relations to a new level.
He was talking to Gen Mohamed Ahmed Zaki Mohamed, Egyptian Commander-in-Chief and Minister for Defence and Military Production, who called on him here on Wednesday.
During the meeting, views were exchanged on bilateral, regional and international issues.
The prime minister dilated in detail on the grave human rights and humanitarian situation in the Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, including the inhuman lockdown and communications blockade which had continued since August 5, 2019 and severely impacted the lives of over 8 million Kashmiris.
He underlined that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-inspired Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government’s extremist and discriminatory policies were not only targeting India’s minorities, but also imperiling peace and security in the region.
The prime minister highlighted the close, cordial relations between Pakistan and Egypt.
He recalled his meetings with President Abdel Fattah El Sisi in Makkah and New York during 2019 and underscored the shared commitment of the leadership in the two countries to deepen bilateral collaboration in diverse fields.
Imran Khan also reiterated the resolve to take Pakistan-Egypt relations to a new level.
In the context of enhanced high-level exchanges, he added that he looked forward to President Sisi’s visit to Pakistan at his earliest convenience.
Gen Mohamed Ahmed Zaki Mohamed conveyed the cordial greetings of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi.
Noting the strong Egypt-Pakistan bilateral relations, he expressed satisfaction over the existing level of defence cooperation, including frequent exchange of visits, training exchange programmes and joint exercises.
Gen Zaki Mohamed reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to enhance high-level exchanges and further fortify bilateral cooperation with Pakistan in all fields.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan has urged the world community to act now to save the people of Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir and 200 million Indian Muslims from the racist ideology of Indian leadership.
In a series of tweets on Wednesday, the Prime Minister said a Nazi-inspired RSS ideology has taken over a nuclear state of over a billion people. Whenever such an ideology takes over a country, it leads to bloodshed.
“Today in India we are seeing the Nazi-inspired RSS ideology take over a nuclear-armed state of over a billion people. Whenever a racist ideology based on hatred takes over, it leads to bloodshed”
Referring to his address of the United Nations General Assembly last year, the Prime Minister said once the genie is out of the bottle the bloodshed gets worse. He said: “As I had predicted in my address to UNGA last year, once the genie is out of the bottle the bloodshed will get worse. IOJK was the beginning. Now 200 million Muslims in India are being targeted. The world community must act now.”
He said situation in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir was the beginning and now Muslims in India are being targeted.
The Prime Minister said minorities in Pakistan are equal citizens. He said anyone targeting our non-Muslim citizens or their places of worships will be dealt with strictly.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan Wednesday stressed that implementation of the United Nations Security Council resolutions remained the only way for peaceful solution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
He was talking to Gen Mohamed Ahmed Zaki Mohamed, Egyptian Commander-in-Chief and Minister for Defence and Military Production, who called on him here.
During the meeting, views were exchanged on bilateral, regional and international issues.
The prime minister dilated in detail on the grave human rights and humanitarian situation in the Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, including the inhuman lockdown and communications blockade which had continued since August 5, 2019 and severely impacted the lives of over 8 million Kashmiris.
He underlined that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-inspired Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government’s extremist and discriminatory policies were not only targeting India’s minorities, but also imperiling peace and security in the region.
The prime minister highlighted the close, cordial relations between Pakistan and Egypt.
He recalled his meetings with President Abdel Fattah El Sisi in Makkah and New York during 2019 and underscored the shared commitment of the leadership in the two countries to deepen bilateral collaboration in diverse fields.
Imran Khan also reiterated the resolve to take Pakistan-Egypt relations to a new level.
In the context of enhanced high-level exchanges, he added that he looked forward to President Sisi’s visit to Pakistan at his earliest convenience.
Gen Mohamed Ahmed Zaki Mohamed conveyed the cordial greetings of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi.
Noting the strong Egypt-Pakistan bilateral relations, he expressed satisfaction over the existing level of defence cooperation, including frequent exchange of visits, training exchange programmes and joint exercises.
Gen Zaki Mohamed reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to enhance high-level exchanges and further fortify bilateral cooperation with Pakistan in all fields. – TLTP, NNI
India 2/26 aggression expresses maturity of the nation: PM Khan
