Pakistan will give befitting response to any aggression: President, PM

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday said there would be no compromise on the defence of the country and that every aggression would be met with a befitting response, according to state broadcaster Radio Pakistan.

In separate statements, they said the State of Pakistan would not compromise on its peace, stability and territorial integrity.

The president said no one should have the misconception that Pakistan would be coerced by pressure or intimidation. He said the nation and the armed forces stood “like a rock wall” to protect the integrity of the motherland and its borders. He said the armed forces’ response capability was comprehensive, timely, and decisive, and that they had the capacity to uproot the enemy’s evil intentions.

President Zardari said Pakistan did not want confrontation, but warned that if anyone considered Pakistan’s peace as weakness, they would face a strong response. He added that for the last five years, the “ungrateful Taliban regime” had been engaged in terrorist acts against Pakistan through TTP terrorists.

He further said diplomatic efforts and the involvement of brotherly countries had failed to bring the “criminal gang” to what he described as the correct path. The president added that the group had crossed the international border and challenged the integrity of Pakistan.

He said Pakistan, as a responsible state, had adopted diplomatic channels and made serious efforts to bring the group to the path of moderation with the help of brotherly countries, but no positive progress had been made.

The prime minister said the people and the armed forces were always ready to protect the country’s security, sovereignty and territorial integrity. He said the armed forces were committed to not allowing any threat to the peace and security of the country and were fully capable of defeating aggressive designs.

PM Shehbaz said that under the leadership of the Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Syed AsimMunir, the armed forces were performing their duties with national spirit. He said the armed forces were equipped with professional capabilities, quality training and an effective defensive strategy, and were fully capable of dealing with any internal or external challenge.

The prime minister said Pakistan had always promoted peace, but made clear that the country’s integrity would not be compromised and that the armed forces would resolutely confront any aggression. He said the entire nation stood by the armed forces.

Pakistani security forces launched “Operation Ghazab Lil Haq,” carrying out air and ground strikes against Afghan Taliban positions in Kabul, Kandahar, Paktia, Nangarhar and several other locations after unprovoked cross-border aggression.

Pakistan has “effectively repulsed” Afghan Taliban insurgents at 53 locations along the border, inflicting heavy losses while exercising restraint to avoid civilian harm, the military’s spokesperson said while addressing a media briefing on Friday.

“So far, 274 Taliban insurgents have been killed and over 400 injured,” he said, adding, “Seventy-three posts along the border have been destroyed, while 18 posts are now in our possession.” He added that 115 tanks used by insurgents had also been destroyed during the engagements. Staff Report