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Pak army invites India to dialogue table

Kashmir Times. Dated: 1/4/2019 4:56:26 PM

ISLAMABAD, Jan 3(Agencies): The Pakistan Army has invited India to table for dialogue to resolve all the pending issues including the 70 years long pending dispute of Kashmir, the News International reported on Thursday.
Major General Asif Ghafoor, the army’s spokesperson, in an interview with a private news channel while inviting India to table said it was India which always escaped from talks. He pointed out that there was history of tense relations between Pakistan and India mainly due to unresolved Kashmir issue.
“Three wars have been fought with India but the Indian government has always fled from the negotiating table set by Pakistan for peace in the region,” said Maj Gen Ghafoor.
He added that Indian PM Narendra Modi has been used ‘provocative language’ to win the upcoming elections. He pointed out that Pakistan foreign office expressed its reservations over the negative statement of the Indian Premier Narendra Modi.
“We have repeatedly asked the neighbouring country for peace talks,” he said.
He reminded India that Pakistan’s desire for peace should not be misconstrued as its weakness. “We are a strong state and strong army having capacity and capability to thwart any misadventure,” he told Pakistan based News channel ARY.
Moreover, he said, “There is election year in India where anti-Pakistan slogans are used in election campaign.” “But this does not happen in Pakistan,” he said.
To another question, the military spokesman said the Indian prime minister himself admitted that his people also did not believe that their army troops carried out surgical strike in Pakistan Administered Kashmir. “Surgical strikes are not carried with claims or mere verbal talk,” he said adding how surgical strikes which never happened could be admitted.
To a question about Kulbhushan Jadev, the alleged Indian spy, he said he was awarded death sentence and his mercy appeal is with the army chief. “The case is also with the International Court of Justice and let us see what decision they take,” he said.
To another question about threats from India’s political and military leadership, the ISPR DG said such threats would serve purpose of deteriorating relations between the two countries and having negative impact on region’s peace. “Pakistan always talks about peace and talks, while India talks about war,” he said.
To a question about role of Pakistan army in politics, the military spokesman maintained that the army wanted to see political leadership in the country. “We have achieved unprecedented successes against terrorism in the country in the last two decades and will not take such a step which can derail country from path to progress, “he said adding that in the last a few years, Pakistan army had extended more support to the democratic system.
He pointed out that general elections are political process for change in the country saying elections bring change. “How can we have hand in it when we hardly could spare time for our families while fighting against terrorism,” he said. About extension in period of military courts which is going to end in March this year, Major General Asif Ghafoor said the final decisions would be taken by the government.
He criticised New Delhi for boasting about conducting the “surgical strikes” inside Pakistan. “India has not yet given proofs of these ‘surgical strikes’ to its people,” he said. “We want to tell them that ‘surgical strikes’ are not conducted through mere brags,” he added.
Ghafoor, according to the report, said Pakistan was fully capable to defend its territorial integrity. “The Pakistan army holds an impregnable ability to defeat India. Any misadventure by India would be given a befitting response,” he said.
He hit out at New Delhi saying, “How can the Indian army carry out surgical strikes in Pakistan when even their drones are not allowed to cross into the country’s territory.”