Following India’s provocative measures in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack, which claimed the lives of 26 tourists, the Pakistan Army vowed to respond “surely and decisively” to any Indian attempt to impose war, saying that the aspirations of the people of Pakistan “shall be respected at all costs”.
The affirmation came during a Special Corps Commanders’ Conference (CCC) meeting chaired by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir at General Headquarters (GHQ), Rawalpindi.
The two nuclear-armed neighbours are experiencing a period of heightened tensions since the April 22 attack on tourists in the scenic resort town of Pahalgam in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), in which at least 26 people were killed.
New Delhi linked Islamabad to the attack without offering any evidence and took a flurry of punitive measures to downgrade ties, including suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, revoking visas of Pakistanis, and closing Wagah-Attari border crossing, among others.
Islamabad, in response, ordered the expulsion of Indian diplomats and military advisers, cancelling visas for Indian nationals, with the exception of Sikh pilgrims, and closing the main border crossing from its side.
Pakistan also denies its involvement in the attack and offered to take part in a credible and transparent investigation.
During today’s special moot of the military’s top brass, the forum conducted a comprehensive review of the prevailing geo-strategic environment, with particular emphasis on the current Pakistan-India standoff and the broader regional security calculus.
The participants reaffirmed the unflinching resolve of the Pakistan armed forces to uphold the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country against any aggression or misadventure.
Meanwhile, COAS Munir lauded the unwavering professionalism, steadfast morale, and operational preparedness of the armed forces, standing in unity with the people of Pakistan to defend the homeland at all costs. He underscored the critical importance of heightened vigilance and proactive readiness across all fronts.
The forum expressed grave concern over the intensification of Indian atrocities in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), particularly in the aftermath of the recent Pahalgam incident, as well as the continued targeting of innocent civilians along the Line of Control (LoC) by Indian occupation forces.
“It was reiterated that such inhumane and unprovoked acts serve only to escalate regional tensions and will be met with a resolute and proportionate response,” the statement added.
The forum noted, with serious concern, India’s consistent pattern of exploitation of crises to achieve political and military objectives. “They have been following a predictable template — whereby internal governance failures are externalised,” it added.
