Islamabad (Staff Report/Agencies): Prime Minister Imran Khan has authorised the armed forces of Pakistan to respond decisively and comprehensively to any aggression or misadventure by India.
According to a statement released by the Prime Minister's Office, the PM issued the directives during a meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) in Islamabad on Thursday.
The committee discussed geo-strategic and national security environment, and situation arising after the Pulwama incident.
The forum said in unequivocal terms that the state of Pakistan is not involved in any way, means or form in Pulwama incident and it was conceived, planned and executed indigenously.
The NSC stated Pakistan has sincerely offered investigation of the incident and dialogue on the issue of terrorism among other disputed issues with India.
It said Pakistan has sincerely offered investigation of the incident as well as the offer for a dialogue on the issue of terrorism among other disputed issues.
“We expect India to positively respond to these offers. The committee said based on the investigation or any tangible evidence provided, State of Pakistan shall take action against anyone found using our soil”, the statement added.
However, India also needs deep introspection to realize that why people of Occupied Kashmir have lost fear of death. The violence by Indian forces in Occupied Kashmir is highly counterproductive, it added.
The Committee urged the global community to play its part in resolving the long pending Kashmir issue in accordance with UN resolutions and aspirations of the Kashmiris.
The PM said this is a new Pakistan and “we are determined to demonstrate to our people that the State is capable of protecting them and believes that monopoly of violence stays with State”.
The prime minister said that this is a new Pakistan and "we are determined to demonstrate to our people that the State is capable of protecting them and believes that monopoly of violence stays with State".
Expressing resolve to defend the motherland, the PM authorized Armed Forces of Pakistan to respond decisively and comprehensively to any aggression or misadventure by India.
“We recognize that terrorism and extremism are the top issues in the region and the whole region including Pakistan have suffered”, PM Imran said.
He said said Pakistan alone has endured over 70,000 casualties in the process besides heavy loss to national exchequer. He said that is why the National Action Plan conceived and issued in 2014, outlined concrete sequenced measures with consensus of all political parties and institutions of Pakistan.
Having addressed direct threat to State of Pakistan, Khan said we need to move to ensure that militancy and extremism are routed from the society and the State never becomes hostage to extremists. In this regard, Prime Minister directed both the interior ministry and the security institutions to immediately accelerate actions on ground.
Meanwhile, the participants of the meeting also reviewed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman's recent visit and the Afghan peace process.
The meeting was attended by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Bajwa, services chiefs, heads of intelligence agencies, security officials and federal and state ministers for finance, defence, foreign affairs and interior.
Prior to the meeting, Prime Minister Imran Khan and COAS General Bajwa also met and discussed the country and region’s security situation.
