Pak's top security body authorises army to revenge Indian st
Pak's top security body authorises army to revenge Indian strikes 'at a time, place, and manner of its choosing'
Pakistan's top security body said the armed forces have been duly authorised to undertake retaliation "at a time, place, and manner of its choosing" to avenge the loss of lives.
ISLAMABAD — Pakistan's
top security body on Wednesday said the armed forces have been duly authorised
to undertake retaliation "at a time, place, and manner of its
choosing" to avenge the loss of lives in the Indian military strikes.
Pakistan Army spokesman Lt Gen Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry said at
least 26 people were killed and 46 injured in the missile strikes launched
shortly after midnight on cities in the Punjab province and Pakistan-occupied
Kashmir (PoK).
Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Maulana Masood Azhar's 10 family
members and four close aides were killed in the attack on the outfit's
headquarters in Bahawalpur.
A hurriedly called National Security Council meeting,
chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and attended by cabinet ministers,
chief ministers, all services chiefs and senior officers, described the strikes
as "unprovoked” and an “unlawful act of war".
An NSC statement warned that in consonance with Article 51
of the UN Charter, Pakistan reserves the right to respond, in self-defence, “at
a time, place, and manner of its choosing” to avenge the loss of innocent
Pakistani lives in the Indian strikes.
"The Armed Forces of Pakistan have duly been authorised
to undertake corresponding actions in this regard,” the statement said.
Addressing a session of the Parliament later, Prime Minister
Shehbaz claimed that the Pakistan armed forces destroyed five Indian jets. He,
however, did not provide any evidence in support of his claim.
He lauded the Pakistan Air Force and its chief "for the
swift response", saying that the armed forces had prior intelligence about
India's plans.
India launched Operation Sindoor early Wednesday hitting
nine terror targets in PoK and Punjab in retaliation for the terror attack in
Pahalgam on April 22 that killed 26 people. Citing “cross-border linkages” to
the horrific attack, India had promised severe punishment to those involved in
the strike.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif earlier said Pakistan is ready
to "wrap up" tensions with India if New Delhi de-escalates the
situation.
"We have been saying all along in the last fortnight
that we’ll never initiate anything hostile towards India. But if we're
attacked, we'll respond. If India backs down, we will definitely wrap up this
tension," he was quoted as saying by Bloomberg Television.
The Pakistan Army spokesman said six locations were attacked
by India.
He said that 13 people were killed and 37 others injured in
Bahwalpur’s Ahmedpur East, where the Subhan Allah mosque was attacked. In
Muridke, three men were killed and one was injured.
In Muzaffarabad, three persons were killed and two injured
in the attack on the Bilal mosque. In the strike at Kotli, two youths were
killed, while two persons were injured.
The army spokesperson also said that five civilians were
killed in cross LoC firing by India.
JeM chief Azhar acknowledged that 10 members of his family
and four close associates were killed in the missile attack on the outfit's
headquarters in Bahawalpur.
In Muridke, some 40 kms from Lahore, the army personnel and
members of the banned Jamaat-ud-Dawah of Hafiz Saeed attended the funeral of
three persons, believed to be the members of the JuD, killed in the strikes on
the terror group's headquarters.
Pakistan announced a 48-hour closure of its airspace for all
air traffic after the strike. However, aviation authorities reopened the
airspace after an eight-hour closure.
Meanwhile, UN chief Antonio Guterres "calls for maximum
military restraint from both countries. The world cannot afford a military
confrontation between India and Pakistan,” his spokesman Stephane Dujarric
said.
US President Donald Trump said he hopes that the hostilities
will end "very quickly". British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the
UK is engaging with both India and Pakistan to push for dialogue and
de-escalation.
Russia also expressed deep concern at the escalation and
called on the parties to exercise restraint in order to prevent further
deterioration of the situation in the region.
China called on India and Pakistan to exercise maximum
restraint in the "larger interest of peace and stability" of the
region.
The Pakistan market saw investors in panic mode in intra-day
trade as the benchmark KSE-100 index decreased by 6,560.82 points, or 5.78 per
cent, to stand at 107,007.68 from the last close of 113,568.50 when the market
opened this morning.
Prime Minister Sharif earlier termed the Indian missile
strikes as an "act of war" and said his country has every right to
give a "befitting reply."
"At no point Indian aircraft was allowed to enter
Pakistan and no Pakistani aircraft entered India. All PAF assets are safe,” he
said.
He claimed that India also targeted the Neelum Jhelum
project by attacking a water storage dam, which he termed a dangerous sign.
In its statement, the NSC called upon the international
community to recognise “the gravity of India’s unprovoked illegal actions” and
to hold it accountable for its blatant violations of international norms and
laws.
Ties between India and Pakistan plummeted following the
Pahalgam terror attack.
India announced a raft of punitive measures against
Pakistan, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, shutting down of
the only operational land border crossing at Attari and the downgrading of
diplomatic ties following the terror attack.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had told the top defence brass
that the armed forces have “complete operational freedom” to decide on the
mode, targets and timing of India’s response to the attack.
