As Pakistan marks 'Surprise Day' to commemorate the first anniversary of its attempted air strike on Indian forces in Kashmir in February last year, the country's armed forces allege that India has continued ceasefire violations across the Line of Control.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Major General Babar Iftikhar, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said the Indian Army had carried out "384 violations" in the past year.
Iftikhar was quoted by Dawn as saying, "They do not spare children on their way to school. The most ceasefire violations were recorded in 2019.The Pakistan Army is a responsible force; when we are provoked, we respond on military targets, while the Indian forces target civilians."
In November last year, THE WEEK reported that the Indian Army had become proactive in the use of artillery systems and was using heavy-calibre weapons, including the 155mm Bofors guns, to deter Pakistan. Till November, artillery was used around 450 times across the LoC in 2019.
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Iftikhar also warned India that Pakistan was "aware of all covert and overt operations of our enemies, and are prepared for all scenarios. The game being played by India, Pakistan's civil and military leadership is very much aware of it". However, he played down the risk of all-out war between India and Pakistan, given the fact that both nations were nuclear powers.
Iftikhar was quoted by Dawn as saying, "There is no space for war between two nuclear powers. The consequences for that will be uncontrollable and things will spiral out of control. Intentions can change overnight but capabilities remain.”
Iftikhar also declared the Pakistani military had stood by Kashmiris in the past and would do so in the future. Referring to comments by the UN secretary-general on Kashmir, Iftikhar claimed, "The entire world is aware of what is going on in Kashmir.”
