News Desk |
On Sunday, addressing a press conference in Multan, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi announced India’s new plan to attack Pakistan between 16th-20th April. FM Qureshi revealed that Modi-Doval duo is planning another false flag attack in Indian-occupied Kashmir, which will be used as a pretext to launch an attack on Pakistani soil, “not necessarily restricted to AJK”.
FM Qureshi highlighted that New Delhi has created a war-like situation, and the statements issued by the leaders of the Modi government have promoted war frenzy and hysteria that has forced Pakistan to remain concerned. He stated that this press conference was a matter of great urgency as Pakistan seeks to reveal another plan that Modi has hatched to risk the peace and stability of the entire region simply to fulfill his agendas of “politicking and electioneering”.
Qureshi mentioned the Indian media’s extensive reportage on the recent meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Defense, presided over by the Indian Prime Minister Modi himself, and attended by all 3 Indian army chiefs. FM Qureshi stated that during this meeting, the military informed Modi that “they are ready to act against Pakistan and only required a political nod”, to which Modi responded by granting them a “free hand”.
The International community should keep the flash-point of this region in mind and should not keep silent. If they wish to see peace and stability in this region they cannot remain silent. They will have to, and should play their role.
FM Qureshi’s revelations, as shared by MOFA, warns, “PM Modi told his Service Chiefs that they are permitted and should act. The Indian chiefs said that they have already selected targets, which are military in nature and are not necessarily restricted to AJK, but can go beyond AJK.” He highlighted that this is great cause of attention and concern and the clouds of war “have not totally dissipated”.
FM Qureshi stated that India is once again playing a “very dangerous game” and Pakistan intends to inform the international community and its own people of these agendas.
Intelligence Reports of Indian Attack between 16-20 April
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, in a press conference attended by local and international media persons, drew attention to the intelligence gathered by Pakistan on India’s “new plan for aggression”. FM Qureshi warned, “Between 16-20 April, this new drama can be enacted. Additionally, a new incident like Pulwama may be staged in IoK. The aim is to use such an incident to increase diplomatic pressure on Pakistan and justify Indian aggression.”
Read more: Pakistan will respond to Indian aggression: FM Qureshi warns
FM Qureshi warned that if a false flag attack is staged in IAK and once again, used to exert aggression on Pakistan, it would greatly disturb regional peace and stability. He informed that as soon as Islamabad received this intelligence, MOFA immediately called a meeting to brief the P-5 Ambassadors, and the Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua informed them of Pakistan’s concerns. The statement by MOFA notes, “She stressed that we want the international community to take notice of this irresponsible behavior and restrain India from embarking on this path.”
India’s Aggressive Posturing Post-Pulwama
FM Qureshi highlighted that in the wake of the Pulwama attack, on 26th February, India violated “Pakistani airspace and LoC for the first time after 1971” and even though Indian air jets forced their way into Pakistan, the international community and “many responsible countries” chose to remain silent due to geopolitics despite India’s clear violation of international laws and the UN Charter.
FM Qureshi warned the global community, “The International community should keep the flash-point of this region in mind and should not keep silent. If they wish to see peace and stability in this region they cannot remain silent. They will have to, and should play their role.”
FM Qureshi also highlighted Pakistani’s decision to release 360 Indian prisoners and reinstated Pakistan’s desire to seek peace and stability, and wants New Delhi to resolve all the issues that remain through the media of dialogue.
FM Qureshi added that in the wake of the Pulwama attack, Indian aggression and human rights violations in IoK have also intensified in a brutal crackdown. “Use of force and torture has intensified. International community should not ignore it because if they do, peace and stability of South Asia can be impacted.” FM Qureshi reinstated Pakistan’s message of support to the “peaceful political Kashmiri struggle” against a brutally repressive India occupation.
Modi Failed to Sway Public Sentiments with Lies
FM Qureshi further stated that the Indian narrative and propaganda has been completely exposed by the International media, and highlighted that the Modi-led government failed to sway the public sentiment and gain popularity with three lies, which have fallen flat after factual investigations.
FM Qureshi stated, “India alleged that it struck 3 terrorist camps inside Pakistan through surgical strikes. The world saw there were no terrorist camps. India failed to show any camp through satellite imagery. The world just saw 4 holes and some damaged trees due to Indian bombs, but the camps India claimed were not seen by anyone. They exposed India.”
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FM Qureshi pointed out their second allegation of “targeting and killing more than 350 terrorists” and which their failure to show even one dead body or even one injured individual. Their third allegation was the claim of shooting down a PAF F-16, another lie that has been refuted after USA’s verifications. He warned that now that the Modi-led government has failed to extract its ambitions of popularity through the Pulwama attack and its “propaganda has backfired”, intelligence reports have indicated the possibility of another Indian act of aggression against Pakistan between 16-20 April.
Pakistan Calls for Dialogue with India
FM Qureshi also highlighted Pakistani’s decision to release 360 Indian prisoners and reinstated Pakistan’s desire to seek peace and stability, and wants New Delhi to resolve all the issues that remain through the media of dialogue. “Jammu & Kashmir dispute, water issues, Sir Creek, economic relations, all these remain unresolved and Pakistan believes they should be resolved by dialogue. There is no other way.” Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi highlighted that 2 nuclear powers connected by geography cannot look towards any other means of resolving disputes except dialogue.
He called India to sit down, even after the elections, and engage in dialogue to resolve disputes and maintain peace and stability in the region by work towards economic prosperity. However, FM Qureshi made it clear that when faced with another episode of Indian aggression, Pakistan is a “vibrant nation” and “we absolutely reserve the right to self-defense”.
On Sunday night, the MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar, as cited by India Today, stated, “This public gimmick appears to be a call to Pakistan-based terrorists to undertake a terror attack in India.”
He highlighted that the Pakistan army and the PAF have exhibited a powerful defense against Indian aggression, and with the support of the Pakistani nation, their morale is strengthened. Addressing the nation FM Qureshi noted, “My message to the nation is that if god forbid there is aggression from India, we must stand united and convey the message that despite differences, we are united against any aggression.”
India Denies FM Qureshi’s Apprehensions
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement denying Foreign Minister Qureshi’s announcement of intelligence reports indicating another Indian attack on Pakistani soil, deeming it as irresponsible and preposterous. On Sunday night, the MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar, as cited by India Today, stated, “This public gimmick appears to be a call to Pakistan-based terrorists to undertake a terror attack in India.”
Despite Pakistan’s continued efforts to maintain peace by sending back over 300 Indian prisoners, disbanding banned outfits and attempting to engage with New Delhi in negotiations over the Pulwama dossier, the Indian MEA has yet again blamed Pakistan for not taking “credible and irreversible steps against terrorism”. The spokesperson further added, “It has been made clear to Pakistan that it cannot absolve itself of responsibility of a cross border terrorist attack in India. No attempt at creating an alibi for its complicity in such attacks will succeed.”
Read more: Pulwama attack: No Pakistani link found
The Indian MEA spokesperson concluded in a veiled statement that does succeed in confirming Islamabad’s apprehensions that FM Qureshi has highlighted, “India reserves the right to respond firmly and decisively to any cross border terrorist attack.”
Mina Jahangir with additional input by News Desk.