ISLAMABAD: Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor, the director general of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), on Wednesday told the people of Indian-occupied Kashmir that the Pakistani armed forces were standing by them and will go to any length to protect their land.
Addressing a press conference at the General Headquarters on the situation in occupied Kashmir since the Indian government revoked its special autonomy, the military’s spokesperson also said a “befitting response” will be given to any false-flag operation staged by India.
“I want to give this message to Kashmiris that we stand by you and will continue to do so. It is sad that your independence struggle was presented as terrorism,” he said.
“Kashmir is our jugular vein and we will go to any length to protect it.”
Maj Gen Ghafoor began his presser by saying that he would talk about the situation in Indian-occupied Kashmir and its effect on national security.
He said Pakistan’s geographical situation cannot be ignored by regional countries or world powers.
“India is a country with a huge population, a follower of Hitler is in power [there]. The world community has interests in India.
“Then there is China, an emerging world power. China has issues with India as well but their economic relations with India are stable. Afghanistan has seen nothing but war, martyrdom and loss of lives,” he added.
Maj Gen Ghafoor said Pakistan has good relations with Iran but due to the situation in the Middle East, Iran is facing some problems. “But Iran has a huge role in regional peace,” he added.
“In India, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Nazi ideology are in power. They endanger minorities including Muslims and Dalits,” he said, adding that the situation is such in India that there is no religious or social freedom there.
In occupied Kashmir, he said, the “fascist” government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has “uprooted Nehru’s step for the region”.
In contrast, the armed forces have established peace in Pakistan and the country is also playing its role for regional peace.
“We have avoided escalation,” he said of recent tensions with India over occupied Kashmir.
He said Prime Minister Imran Khan in his first speech after taking office had extended an offer of dialogue to India “in response to which they sent in two warplanes and received a fitting reply”.
“Nuclear countries have no room for war,” the military’s spokesperson said.
He said India has “indirectly continued to attack Pakistan”, an example of which he said was Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav.
“We are playing a role in the Afghan reconciliation process. If peace is established in Afghanistan, our troops deployed at the western border will probably be removed.