Pakistan can respond to full spectrum threat, don’t mess with us: DG ISPR warns India

Warning India against any aggression from their side, Director General (DG) of Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), Major General Asif Ghafoor, has said that India can never surprise Pakistan armed forces, however, Pakistan shall surprise them.

Addressing a press conference at General Headquarters Rawalpindi, the DG ISPR maintained that India is a non-threat to Pakistan. "India can never surprise us. However, Pakistan shall surprise them. Pakistan can respond to a full spectrum threat. We hope you get this and don’t mess with Pakistan," he added.

Speaking about India's threatening to diplomatically isolate Pakistan, the DG ISPR said, "You have seen how the heads and delegations of foreign countries are visiting." Referring to India's allegations on Pakistan for Pulwama attack, DG ISPR said that the attack took place miles away from the Line of Control and the explosives used were not from Pakistan.

He added that the car, which was rammed into the vehicle during the attack, was not from Pakistan either. "The attack was carried out by a youngster from occupied Kashmir who was mistreated by Indian security forces," he added.

The  DG ISPR said people even in India had already predicted occurrence of such an incident as the Indian government was preparing for next elections for which it wanted something to blame Pakistan. “People in Indian media and social media had predicted an attack like this prior to the elections.”

Referring to news surfacing on Indian media that Pakistan was preparing for war, the DG ISPR contended that threats and reports of a war were coming from India. "We are only using our right to self defence," he added.

Apprising about an inquiry against former Lt Gen (retd) Asad Durrani, he said, “General Asad Durrani had been found guilty of violating the military code of conduct.” The ISPR DG said Durrani was a senior officer but did not follow the procedure while writing the book, adding that his retiring benefits including pension and allowances had been stopped, besides his name had been placed in the Exit Control List.

Praising the role of Pakistani media he said they had been playing exceptionally responsible role as compared with the Indian media. In war and peace, media is the first line of defense and the Pakistani media was playing the same role, especially at the moment, he added.

The DG  ISPR said democracies did not opt for war and hoped that both the countries could move forward on the path of development and peace. “If you want peace and development, do not send Kulbhushan Jadhav to our country, do not destroy regional peace and do not waste the chance of development.”

He concluded his address saying, "Any aggression, if imposed, we shall defend every inch of our motherland, at all costs to our last bullet, to our last breath."