Pakistan Army Friday reiterated that Pakistan would respond in self-defence to any act of unprovoked aggression by Indian military. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa said this in his telephonic communication with the commanders of the United States Central Command (USCENTCOM), UK Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), and the Australian Chief of Defence Force (CDF), as well as the ambassadors of the US, UK and China in Pakistan.
DG ISPR Major General Asif Ghafoor said that prevailing standoff between Pakistan and India and its impacts on peace and stability in the region and beyond were discussed in the telephonic communications. "Pakistan will surely respond to any aggression in self-defence," Chief of Army Staff General Bajwa was quoted as saying.
The statement came as Pakistan was set to release captured Indian air force pilot Abhinandan Varthaman as a gesture of peace towards New Delhi and a de-escalation effort in favour of regional peace.