Pakistan's army warns of 'full force' response to Indian attack

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Pakistan's military is preparing to defend against any attack by India, and would respond with "full force," the army's spokesman said on Friday, amid heightened tensions between the two neighbors over a deadly attack in Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"We have no intention to initiate war, but we will respond with full force to full spectrum threat, that would surprise you," major general Asif Ghafoor said. "Don't mess with Pakistan."

"We do not wish to go to war. If it is imposed on us, we have the right to respond," he told a news conference in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, a week after a Pakistani-based militant group reportedly claimed responsibility for a suicide car bomb attack that killed 40 Indian paramilitary policemen in the disputed Kashmir region.

Indian police at the site of an attack on a bus that killed 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel in south Kashmir, February 14, 2019. /VCG Photo

Pakistan rejects Indian allegations over suicide attack in Kashmir

India has blamed Pakistan for the attack and threatened to take "all possible diplomatic steps" to isolate its South Asian rival. Pakistan rejected any involvement in the incident and has recalled its ambassador in New Delhi for consultations.

Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan, is claimed by both in full. Since their independence from Britain in 1947, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir.

China urges objective, fair investigation

China on Friday called on relevant parties to conduct an objective and fair investigation into the attack to find out the truth.

A girl makes her way back home from school in the border town of Chakothi in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, February 20, 2019. /VCG Photo

The United Nations Security Council Thursday adopted a press statement on the attack, which says Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) has claimed responsibility for the incident. However, the JeM side has reportedly denied any involvement in the attack.

When asked if the press statement means the UN Security Council has evidence to hold the JeM responsible, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a news briefing that although the report mentions a particular organization, it doesn't mean a judgment on the incident.

China noticed that the Pakistani government had expressed its willingness to cooperate with India in the investigation and resolve their disputes through dialogue, he said.

China hopes India and Pakistan will continue to exercise restraint and have dialogue to jointly safeguard regional peace and stability, he said.

(Cover: Pakistani soldiers walk on the outskirts of Peshawar, Pakistan, June 24, 2017. /VCG Photo)

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Source(s): Reuters ,Xinhua News Agency