NEW DELHI, Feb 19: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday warned India
that his country will retaliate if India attacks Pakistan in reaction to the
Pulwama bombing. He asserted that Pakistan had no role in the terrorist attack
in Kashmir.
Responding to what he termed as a raging 'attack Pakistan' clamour in India
following the Pulwama terror attack in Kashmir last week by a suicide bomber in which
40 soldiers of the CRPF were killed, he said, "This is all keeping elections
(in India) in mind. But take note of one thing: Pakistan will not think of retaliating,
it will retaliate."
In his video message, his first statement over reactions to the Pulwama terror
attack, Imran Khan, a former cricketer who became the Pakistani Prime Minister
last August, said, "There will be no option left for Pakistan."
Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed had claimed responsibility for
the terror strike. A school dropout, a newly-inducted militant, had rammed a
car laden with explosives against a vehicle moving in a convoy of some 2,500
CRPF personnel being redeployed in Kashmir from Jammu.
It is widely believed in India that Jaish is guided and supported by Pakistani
army and the ISI, the Intelligence agency. India has since launched a diplomatic
initiative to isolate Pakistan, which has consistently evaded taking action
against Jaish chief Masood Azhar.
Imran Khan, a former cricketer who took power last August, denied that Pakistani
soil was being used for attacks on India.
How can one country's leadership be the Judge, Jury and Executioner... what
sort of justice is this," he questioned.
"India has accused Pakistan without any evidence ... What will Pakistan gain
from this? Why should Pakistan do this when it is trying for stability .. If
you have any actionable intelligence that a Pakistani is involved, give it to
us. I guarantee you, we will take action,” Imran Khan said. It is a “Naya Pakistan
with a new mindset” now, Imran said.
India had off and on cautioned that terrorists are roaming freely in Pakistan.
No action has been taken against Masood Azhar or Hafiz Saeed for their anti-India
activities on Pak soil and across India.
Following the Pulwama bombing, the Government of India has initiated a series
of actions like suspending medical visas to Pakistanis coming to India for cheap
and better treatment and also withdrawing the MFN trade status, and slapping
a 200% duty on imports from Pakistan.
