Sept 08 , 2015
News
Pakistan to give befitting response in case of aggression: Sartaj
Adviser says Modi-led Indian govt pursuing anti-Pakistan policy from day first
INP
ISLAMABAD – Pakistan will give a befitting response if there is any aggression against Pakistan, Adviser on National Security Sartaj Aziz categorically said on Tuesday.
The adviser was talking to reporters here at a local hotel after inaugurating the fourth Regional Technical Group (RTG) meeting on Disaster Management and Confidence Building Measures. He said that the Modi government in India won the election on an anti-Pakistan platform basis and was pursuing the same policy from day one.
“They want better ties, but on their own terms,” Sartaj said. He was responding to a question about a statement made by Indian Information Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore who said his government would explore every possible means, including carrying out a covert or a special operation, to neutralise Dawood Ibrahim or Hafiz Saeed.
He said that if there was any such thing, a befitting response will be given. “If anyone has this notion that after such an attempt they can get away with it, it is their wishful thinking,” Sartaj said. The national security adviser who also looks after Pakistan’s foreign affairs said that Pakistan's stance was clear that unless Pakistan and India discuss all issues, including Kashmir, there was no use of holding any dialogue.
“This has been conveyed to them [Indians] and international community supports our stance that unless there is a talk on all outstanding issues, and no solution is sought, how the situation can improve.” The adviser was scheduled to meet his Indian counterpart on Aug 24 in New Delhi. However the talks never materialised as India objected to invitation of Kashmiri leaders at a reception hosted by Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.
It was the second time that India backed out of talks. It unilaterally cancelled the talks on Aug 17 last year. He said that the Rangers director general and officials of the Indian Border Security Force will be meeting on Wednesday and discuss the 2003 ceasefire agreement. He said Pakistan that would take up the issue of unprovoked Indian firing along the Line of Control and the Working Boundary.
Regarding his recent visit to Afghanistan, Sartaj said that following the terrorist attacks in Kabul, there was “an anti-Pakistan campaign on a persistent level” which was not good for the bilateral ties between the two countries. He said that the objective of his meeting was restoring trust and confidence and removal of misunderstandings.
Sartaj said that Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani agreed that there was a need to remove the trust deficit and in this regard a couple of suggestions were put forward. He said that it was also agreed that a Memorandum of Mutual Trust would be signed in a few days to avert a repeat of such incidents.
He said that matter of security of the Pakistan Embassy in Kabul was also taken up and the Afghan government assured to beef it up further. The adviser said that there was also discussion on improving economic ties and in this regard the Afghan finance minister will be visiting Pakistan in the first week of November and measures would be taken for making the Joint economic commission more effective.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk