Pakistan Senate panel condemns 'unprovoked firing' by India along LoC

Islamabad: A defence committee in Pakistan’s Senate on Friday passed a resolution condemning “unprovoked firing” by India along the LoC in Kashmir and said its “aggressive and jingoistic” actions were part of an organised policy to “trigger” instability in Pakistan. [caption id=“attachment_2430782” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. PTI[/caption] The resolution, which asked the international community to take notice of the Indian “aggression” at the Line of Control, was adopted unanimously by the Defence Committee during a meeting chaired by Senator Mushahid Hussain in Parliament House in Islamabad. “The Indian aggression is part of an organised policy to trigger instability in Pakistan. There is no justification for such a belligerence,” it said, condemning “unprovoked firing” and shelling by India along the LoC. It stated that “the defence committee feels that enduring peace, security and stability in South Asia can only be attained once India starts to abide its commitment to United Nations’ resolutions regarding the right of self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.” The resolution also said that ever since Prime Minister Narendera Modi has come to power, actions and statements of the Indian government have become “aggressive, jingoistic and war-like.” It called upon the UN, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and other international organisations “to take immediate notice of Indian aggression along the LoC and Working Boundary.” Briefing the committee, Secretary Defence Lt Gen (Retd) Alam Khattak warned that “a strong and befitting reply would be given if war is imposed on Pakistan by India.” “India wants to impose war but let it be known that both India and Pakistan are nuclear powers and eruption of a war would destroy both countries,” he said. “Indian forces routinely target civilian zones inside Pakistan, and Pakistan retaliates by returning fire on legitimate military targets only, and not civilian zones inside India,” the defence official said. The resolution was passed against the backdrop of heightened tensions and cross-border firing between Indian and Pakistani troops along the LoC recently. PTI