Pak Army warns India of response

[Ali.009]

Pakistan's military would retaliate within minutes if India carried out a surgical strike within Pakistan, the country's army chief said yesterday.


The warning from Pakistani Chief of Army Staff Ashfaq Parvez Kayani came as India chided the US and Britain for failing to punish Islamabad for last month's attacks in Mumbai and said the lack of action would force New Delhi to "deal with this problem".


While renewing the call for Pakistan to crack down on Islamic militants, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last night sought to lower tensions, saying "nobody wants war".


"The issue is not war. The issue is terror and territory inPakistan being used to promote and abet terrorism," Dr Singh said.


General Kayani earlier apprised President Asif Ali Zardari of the operational preparedness of Pakistan's military.


"The armed forces are fully prepared to meet any eventuality,as his men are ready to sacrifice for their country," General Kayani told Mr Zardari.


Reports said Mr Zardari believed India's threatening statements were creating an atmosphere of aggression and harming the regional environment.


"We are keeping a close watch on all the latest developments and threatening tones of Indian leadership," he said.


Mr Zardari expressed satisfaction at the readiness of Pakistan's army and said all necessary resources would be provided to the armed forces.


Amid the heightened tension, the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Mike Mullen arrived in Islamabad for talks with Pakistan's top brass.


Admiral Mullen met national security adviser Mehmood Ali Durrani and held talks with General Kayani and Lieutenant General Ahmed Shuja Pasha.


General Pasha is head of the Inter-Services Intelligence agency, rogue elements of which New Delhi accuses of supporting Lashkar-e-Toiba, suspected of being behind the Mumbai attack, in which 171 people were killed, including two Australians.


Admiral Mullen was on his second visit to Pakistan since the attacks, in an effort todefuse tension between the nuclear armed neighbours.


The Pakistani Air Force yesterday scrambled fighter jets overseveral major cities in a sign of increased vigilance.


Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee warned yesterday that if Pakistan did not deal with those responsible for the Mumbai outrage, India would be forced to "deal with this problem".


"While we continue to persuade the international community and Pakistan, we are also clear that ultimately it is we who have to deal with this problem," he told Indian ambassadors at a meeting in New Delhi to discuss the Mumbai siege.


Asked whether a military response to the attacks was being considered, Mr Mukherjee said India would "explore all options" to push Pakistan on its promise to crack down on cross-border terrorism.


"We have so far acted with utmost restraint and are hopeful that (the) international community will use its influence to urge (the) Pakistani Government to take effective action," he said.


Mr Mukherjee said he wanted to see more results from US-led attempts to force Pakistan to co-operate with the probe into the attacks. Pakistan's response to the attacks demonstrated its "tendency to resort to a policy of denial" and warned that militants based in Pakistan continued "to threaten peace and stability in this region and beyond".

Articles | Pakistan Herald

 

[KhurramShahzad]

These poor indians think real war is like a bollywood film where one hindu will come and win the game, if they are so intellegent and smart then why the hell they could't find it at first place...poor indians....

 

[neo_revo]

Pakistan is redeploying troops around vital points along the border. Expect troops from western front to start withdrawing and diverting on the eastern border if situation escalates any more than it already has.

 

[Beskar]

Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee warned yesterday that if Pakistan did not deal with those responsible for the Mumbai outrage, India would be forced to "deal with this problem".

Why doesn't this degenerate first deal with the Naxalite "Problem" before sticking his nose in our internal affairs? If he's so concerned about terrorism, why don't they start with Afghanistan where 18 of their consulates are established, doing NOTHING against the 75% of the Taliban who're in control of the entire country even after going through EIGHT GOD DAMN YEARS of war, lead by a supposed "Super Power"

India's government is a God damn Joke! It's pathetic to such a degree that now it's actually amusing.

 

[neo_revo]

Why doesn't this degenerate first deal with the Naxalite "Problem" before sticking his nose in our internal affairs? If he's so concerned about terrorism, why don't they start with Afghanistan where 18 of their consulates are established, doing NOTHING against the 75% of the Taliban who're in control of the entire country even after going through EIGHT GOD DAMN YEARS of war, lead by a supposed "Super Power"

India's government is a God damn Joke! It's pathetic to such a degree that now it's actually amusing.

They don't believe in the phrase "Charity starts at home"

 

[dabloo]

They don't believe in the phrase "Charity starts at home"

Yeh,

Like you believe in "terror begins at home".

Dabloo

 

[neo_revo]

Yeh,

Like you believe in "terror begins at home".

Dabloo

I don't.

 

[KhurramShahzad]

Yeh,

Like you believe in "terror begins at home".

Dabloo

Like you belive on "BLAME GAME"

 

[Sadaf Riaz]

thats the only thing indians want to prove to the world since Pakistan came into being.... Bicharey still unsuccessful he he he ..... & Inshallah Hamesha rahengey b unsuccessful .. un ke yahan to barish b ziada ho jaye toh they start blaming Pakistan...

 

[Neo]

Armed forces’ leaves cancelled: sources ​

​

ISLAMABAD (updated on: December 26, 2008, 12:23 PST): Pakistani armed forces’ leaves have been cancelled and security has been put on high alert at the border areas in a wake of continuous attack threats by India, sources said on Friday.

Sources also revealed that activities of Pakistan Air Forces have also been minimized against militants in tribal areas of the country.

According to media reports, Pakistan Air Force is in a state of high alert and was conducting aerial surveillance of the Chashma power plant and other sensitive sites amidst fears of a possible surgical strike by India in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks.

Forces were also deployed along the Line of Control (LoC) and the international border on Thursday to protect vital points, the sources said.

However Pakistan has ruled out the option of war, but has vowed to defend the country at every cost if attacked.

Analysts said the coming two weeks are seemed to be very important as the situation would become clear on the rising tension between the two nuclear neighbours.

Government sources also said that President Asif Ali Zardari will not conduct any foreign tours during this period.

 

[Neo]

Rehman, intelligence chiefs discuss Indian military build-up ​

ISLAMABAD (December 26 2008): Advisor to the Prime Minister on Interior, Rehman Malik on Thursday held a meeting with chiefs of intelligence agencies and discussed the current military build-up by India near Pak borders. Lieutenant General Ahmed Shuja Pasha, DG (ISI), Dr Shoaib Suddle, DG (IB), Tariq Pervaiz, DG (FIA), Secretary Interior, Syed Kamal Shah and Chairman National Crisis Management Cell, Tariq Lodhi attended the meeting.

Sources said the growing tension between India and Pakistan following Mumbai terrorist attacks, came under discussion during the meeting. The expected terrorist activities by Indian intelligence agency RAW and the mechanism to cope with any possible terrorist strike from India inside Pakistan were also discussed, sources added.

The meeting also discussed threats of terrorist strikes by Taliban and other militants groups from tribal areas during Muharram and it was decided that the vigilance will be increased to avoid any terrorist activity.

The government has declared 75 places as sensitive on Muharram and it has been decided to call army and rangers to reinforce the local administration. It is pertinent to note that law enforcement agencies have arrested an Indian agent Satish Anand from Lahore, who confessed that he was behind Wednesday's bomb explosion. His accomplices were also nabbed.

 

[Neo]

Islamabad warns Delhi it will retaliate ​

MULTAN (December 26 2008): Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that Pakistan army is fully vigilant and aware of the mobilisation of Indian army. Pak army knows very well how to defend their boundaries so if India dares to think about the surgical strikes then we would be compelled to respond. He said this while talking to the media here at local airport on Thursday.

Qureshi said that the UN has decided to set up an inquiry commission to probe into the assassination case of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. The purpose of this investigation is not just to arrest two or three persons and to punish them but to unveil the real culprits behind this conspiracy who played a key role. FM said that terrorism has taken the shape of international plague and Pakistan needs the assistance and co-operation of the entire world to tackle it.

Shah Mehmood termed the Lahore bomb blast a sad one and said that two women and some other people were injured in that blast. Commenting over the news of arrest of an Indian spy behind this bomb blast, he said that he couldn't say any thing about it until it is officially verified.

Talking about the Pak-Indian relationship, he said that we want peace in this region and are sticking to our viewpoint. We do not know about India but we do not want war under any circumstance. He didn't reject the chance of war between Pakistan and India and said that I don't say every thing is all right but I assure the nation that Pakistan army is vigilant to respond.

He expressed his satisfaction over the joint resolution passed by the parliament regarding the joint viewpoint about India. Talking about the conference of ambassadors called by India, Shah Mehmood said that this conference was not called as a result of Mumbai attacks but was already a scheduled one. "However it is possible that discussions might be held over Mumbai attacks", he added.

Answering another question he said that the spokesman of Chinese foreign office has supported our viewpoint in a statement and said that Pakistan's standpoint is valid. He further said that today (Friday) he would talk with Chinese foreign minister on telephone.

To a question about the news of his chance of becoming prime minister, Shah Mehmood said that for me Pakistan is more important than designations and I pray that Allah Almighty helps me to fulfil my current responsibility. Talking about the Pak-US relationship, he said that new US government holds best wishes and expectations for Pakistan and wants to strengthen democracy. MPA Dr Akhtar Malik was also present on this occasion.

 

[Al-zakir]

Sources: Pakistan moves troops to India border - CNN.com

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- Pakistani troops have been moved to the Indian border amid fears of an Indian ground incursion, two Pakistani military officials told CNN on Friday.


File image of a Pakistani soldier

The troops were deployed from Pakistan's western border with Afghanistan, where forces have been battling Taliban and al Qaeda militants in North West Frontier Province and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas.

Pakistan's armed forces have been on high alert in anticipation of a possible conflict with India following last month's terrorist attacks in Mumbai, which killed 160 people.

India believes the 10 men who carried out the attacks were trained at a terrorist camp in the Pakistani-controlled part of Kashmir.

A senior official said the troops had been moved from areas where there are no active military operations, and emphasized that troop levels have not been depleted in areas where soldiers are battling militants, such as the Swat Valley and the Peshawar area in the North West region.

In addition to the move, leave for all military personnel has been restricted and all troops were called back to active duty, the senior official said.

Asked for a reaction to the development, Husain Haqqani. Pakistani ambassador to the United States, said, "Pakistan does not seek war, but we need to be vigilant against threats of war emanating from the other side of our eastern border."

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U.S. National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said the United States has been "in close contact" with India and Pakistan in probing the Mumbai attack and fighting terror. He is hoping that "both sides will avoid taking steps that will unnecessarily raise tensions during these already tense times."

In London, England, Pakistani envoy to Britain Wajid Shamsul Hasan countered the report, noting that winter redeployments are normal and that only police and not the army had their vacation canceled. While he criticized India's "coercive diplomacy" and regretted India's "war hysteria," he underscored the fact that the two countries don't want to go to war.

Tensions increased between nuclear rivals India and Pakistan following the November 26 attacks in Mumbai, where militants launched a coordinated strike against luxury hotels, a Jewish center and other targets.

India has criticized Islamabad for not doing enough to counter terrorism, and it has accused elements within the Pakistan government and military of complicity in fueling terrorism in the region.

On Thursday, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi warned India to refrain from launching any strikes against Pakistan, according to a report in The Nation newspaper.

Another unnamed Pakistani military official told CNN that the Pakistani military has been taking precautionary measures to safeguard borders in the face of mounting military threats from India over the Mumbai attacks.

"Naturally, you have to take certain steps to stem that expected tide of Indian operations," he said, "You can't fight on both fronts so we have redeployed certain military elements from the western border to the northern border to meet Indian operations."

The official said that while Pakistan has tolerated U.S. missile strikes from Afghanistan into Pakistan, he believes the government and public would not stand for an Indian incursion.

In the Indian capital of New Delhi on Friday, three military chiefs briefed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the security situation.

An Indian officer said Indian soldiers have spotted Pakistani troop movements along the Line of Control in Kashmir. The Line of Control divides the disputed region between the area controlled by India and the area administered by Pakistan.

Indian defense spokesman Sitanshu Kar said India isn't carrying out a troop buildup along its western borders but "is monitoring the situation closely." He also said he is "not aware" of military reports about Pakistani troop mobilization along the Indian border.

"But we are keeping a vigil," Kar said.

Indian and Pakistan have clashed over the disputed territory of Kashmir -- wracked by an 18-year, bloody separatist campaign that authorities say has left at least 43,000 dead. The two countries have fought three wars against each other since 1947