Pakistan can also execute surgical strikes, warns Sharif

Terming "Indian aggression" as a threat to the entire region, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday warned that Pakistan is also capable of executing surgical strikes and will not allow anyone to "cast an evil eye" on it.

Chairing a special Cabinet meeting to review the security situation in the country, Sharif said that Pakistan will take all necessary steps to protect its people and territorial integrity in case of any aggression or violation of the Line of Control.

He said that Indian aggression constituted a threat to the entire region and Pakistan would take all measures to protect its territorial integrity.

"No one will be allowed to cast an evil eye on Pakistan," Sharif said, adding that Pakistan was fully capable of executing surgical strikes.

"The nation is standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the valiant armed forces to defend the motherland."

His comments came a day after India conducted surgical strikes on seven terror launch pads across the LoC with the Army inflicting "significant casualties" on terrorists preparing to infiltrate from PoK.

Pakistan has dismissed as "fabrication of truth" India's claim and termed it as a "quest" by India to create media hype by rebranding cross-border fire as surgical strike.

Sharif said that all steps would be taken to prevent LoC violations or aggression and added that Pakistan’s resolve to establish peace remained strong.

He said the leadership and people of Pakistan are united in their resolve to counter any aggressive Indian designs, adding that "Pakistan's commitment for peace must not be construed as weakness".

Sharif also raised Kashmir issue said that it was the "unfinished agenda of the partition".

He said that atrocities in Kashmir could not crush Kashmiris' right to self-determination. "Indian atrocities" there are "unacceptable", he said.

It also welcomed the decision of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to send a fact-finding mission to Kashmir.

The Cabinet expressed Pakistan's unwavering commitment to provide political, moral and diplomatic support to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

It "rejected the provocative statements of Indian leadership alleging Pakistan for the Uri attack without any evidence", terming it an attempt to deflect international community’s attention from the situation in Kashmir.

It was noted that the "statements of the Indian Prime Minister had provided a fresh evidence of Indian involvement in subversive and terrorist activities in Pakistan, which was a clear contravention of the UN Charter and international law".

Minister for Commerce Khurram Dastgir said India is creating artificial tension in its attempt to divert attention of the world from its atrocities against Kashmiris. He said Pakistan's defence is in strong hands and the country would continue to raise voice for rights of Kashmiris.

Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Syed Riaz Hussain Pirzada regretted that instead of giving right of self-determination to Kashmiris, India is resorting to terrorism against Pakistan. He said the world community should take notice of India's belligerence.

Photograph: Reuters