The Foreign Office Saturday established a Crisis Management Cell amid escalation of tensions between Pakistan and India in the wake of the Pulwama attack. According to the spokesperson for Foreign Office Dr Mohammad Faisal, the Cell will work round the clock for coordination among concerned government departments on the deteriorating situation due to Indian warmongering.
He said that Pakistan does not want any escalation; however, he made it clear that Pakistan is completely ready to respond in a befitting way to any Indian aggression. "Our policy of restraint and peaceful neighbourhood should not be construed as our weakness, as we are fully-prepared to give a befitting response if war is imposed on Pakistan," he stated in categorical terms, adding that Pakistan is apprising the international community of the Indian aggressive posture.
The international community has expressed concern over the escalation of tension and is urging both Pakistan and India to resolve the matter through dialogue. US President Donald Trump has also commented on the situation between the two countries, saying: "Right now between Pakistan and India, there is a very, very bad situation...A very dangerous situation." Trump also stated that his administration is talking to "authorities in both the countries."
However, the officials in Pakistan did not elaborate the level of contacts by the Trump administration and its impacts on the situation to defuse. "We have seen the comments by the US President on the situation....We don't know as to how much the Trump's role is effective in defusing the situation," said a senior government official while speaking on the deteriorating situation between Pakistan and India.
The official said that India is engaged in preparation for a war, adding that the Modi government has moved 300 companies of troops to occupied Jammu and Kashmir and also started vacating hospitals in Srinagar and other cities. "Our armed forces - ground troops, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and Pakistan Navy - are fully capable to respond in a befitting way to any Indian threat," the official said, adding that Pakistan will also move its troops from its western border along Afghanistan to the eastern border with India if war is imposed against the country.
To a question, the official said that the Pulwama attack did not occur in the India's territory, but on the internationally recognised disputed territory. Despite all the allegations soon after the attack, he said that Pakistan offered cooperation in the investigation and India so far did not share any evidence.
"Drum beating of war from the Indian side will not be beneficial for the millions of people of both the countries. But we are ready to face the situation with full response whatsoever it may be," the official added.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi continued the diplomatic outreach to the regional and friendly countries to appraise them of India's warmongering.
According to the Foreign Office spokesperson, the foreign minister Saturday spoke to his Nepalese and Sri Lankan counterparts via telephone and discussed with them the security situation of the region. Speaking to Foreign Minister of Sri Lankan Tilak Marapana, Qureshi said that Pakistan is a responsible country which desires peace and stability in the region, adding that peace is a precursor for socio-economic benefits and prosperity.
Qureshi also informed the Sri Lankan foreign minister that in his letter to the President of UNSC, he had underscored the importance of maintaining a peaceful environment in South Asia. The foreign minister also conveyed to his Sri Lankan counterpart that Pakistan attaches great importance to its ties with Sri Lanka which is an important neighbour and friend. In his response, the spokesperson said that the Sri Lankan foreign minister said that his country staunchly supports peace in the region and Sri Lanka reiterates that maintaining stability in South Asia should be a priority for all countries.
Earlier in the day, Qureshi telephoned his Nepalese counterpart Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, who is also the chair of SAARC, and discussed the evolving peace and security situation in the region. The foreign minister said that SAARC is a forum established to bring the countries of the region together and therefore, Nepal as the chair can play a constructive role in this regard. Pakistan attaches great importance to its neighbours and South Asia and believes in lasting peace, Qureshi added.
The Nepali foreign minister said that peace and the security of the region is a primary responsibility of all. "Nepal as a member of SAARC and friend of Pakistan, firmly believes that peace is in the interest of everyone," the Nepalese foreign minister was quoted by Foreign Office spokesperson as having said.
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