RAWALPINDI: Pakistan’s military leadership has taken serious note of Indian aggression on the Line of Control (LoC) and irresponsible statements of their Indian counterparts.
Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Babar Iftikhar said this while speaking at a news briefing after a special conference of Principal Staff Officers chaired by Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa here on Friday.
Sharing details of the meeting, DG ISPR Major General Babar Iftikhar said the Indian side has recently intensified ceasefire violations. He said at a time when world is uniting against coronavirus, RSS-inspired extremist Modi government is violating international laws.
Babar maintained the Chief of Army Staff ordered the military commanders to keep strict vigilance on situation at borders and the country’s security. He said the United Nations has repeatedly called India for ceasefire violations along the border.
Major General Babar Iftikhar said Indian forces are using heavy artillery and using people of Occupied Kashmir as human shield. He said India always blames Pakistan to divert world’s attention from its atrocities being committed on Kashmiris. He added India has committed 850 ceasefire violations along the Line of Control during this year. From February 26 when the first case of coronavirus emerged in Pakistan till today, India has violated the LoC 456 times, he added.
“Indian troops deliberately target civilian population in Azad Jammu & Kashmir,” he stated. He said that Indian army used media to spread negative propaganda against Pakistan.
The DG ISPR stated that the India’s conspiracy to link coronavirus with Muslims has failed. “India is promoting the ideology of Hindutva and the RSS broke all laws by spreading hatred,” he remarked. “Whenever India faces internal crisis, it blames Pakistan to divert attention of the world community,” he said, adding in present worst situation of India, no one needs to infiltrate there.
About COVID-19, the DG ISPR said the civil and political leadership is united in the fight against this pandemic. He said all resources of Pakistan Army are being utilized at every level to support government’s efforts against the virus.
He also announced that Pakistan Army will not take internal security (IS) allowance during coronavirus duty. The amount will be spent on the patients affected from coronavirus. He mentioned that in order to increase the strength of the medical core, the Pak Army has decided to call reserve force personnel.
Babar said that military’s resources are being used to combat the deadly virus. “A smart lockdown and testing, tracing and quarantining will drive our efforts against COVID-19. We will have a targeted lockdown only for virus hotspots and clusters.”
He highlighted that the next 15 days with regards to coronavirus are important. The DG ISPR stated that measures and future strategies to deal with coronavirus pandemic were also discussed in the conference.
He said 237 deaths have been reported so far in the country and of them three died in Gilgit-Baltistan. “An increase has been witnessed in testing capacity and isolation of corona patients.” He said China has supported Pakistan in wake of the deadly pandemic which is appreciable.
“China has proven to be a friend and strategic partner by helping us in every field,” he said. “Two flights have reached from China with aid and a team of doctors,” he stated.
Iftikhar also lauded the role of Ulema and their efforts regarding the coronavirus. – TLTP
Smart lockdown to help end virus, troops not taking allowance: ISPR
