MIRPUR: Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Chaudhary Anwar ul Haq has said that India’s prolonged diplomatic maneuvers were just a prelude to water aggression.
In an interview to a private news channel, the AJK premier said that India suddenly released 40,000 causes of water into the Jhelum River to create havoc but there was no loss of life or property because we were fully prepared to deal with any kind of eventuality in view of the fast changing political scenario in the region”, he said adding that they had long anticipated the enemy’s cowardly tactics.
He said that Pakistan being a proud nuclear power and a pillar of strength for the Muslim Ummah stands united in its commitment to defend the country’s territorial sovereignty. “India does not have the courage to cast an evil eye on Pakistan”, he said.
India, he said, would be paid back in the same coin if it dared to commit any misadventure against AJK and Pakistan. “500,000 retired soldiers in Azad Kashmir on high alert, ready to repel Indian aggression, AJK PM said.
Anwar said that even the youth of AJK were ready to fight alongside the armed forces in case of war. He lauded Pakistan’s consistent support to Kashmir cause saying that the respective governments have always lent their all out support to Kashmiris’ legitimate struggle in testing times.
“The current army chief, upon assuming command, took a courageous stand on issue of Kashmir and said that Pakistan fought three wars for Kashmir and was ready to fight ten more if required”, he added.
Referring to persecution of religious minorities particularly the Muslims in India, he asked , “What kind of protections have Muslims ever truly enjoyed in India? “The plight of minorities continues to expose a harsh and troubling reality”, he said, adding that the brutal assault of a Dalit girl shocked the conscience of the world.
PM said that India has miserably failed to suppress Kashmiris’ legitimate political struggle despite using its military might. He stated that the country is fully prepared to respond with full strength if India commits aggression.
The AJK Premier stated that Pakistan has the right to respond to Indian hostility as it deems necessary. He warned that any Indian attempt to escalate tensions along the LoC or carry out terrorist activities in Azad Kashmir will be met with a response “eleven times stronger” by the Kashmiri nation.
The Prime Minister said Kashmiris have drenched their homeland with their blood, adding that the martyrs’ sacred blood will never go in vain. He described Kashmiris’ struggle as a testament to pain, perseverance, and resilience, highlighting India’s military siege and information blackout in occupied Jammu and Kashmir since August 5, 2019.
He highlighted internal unrest in Indian states like Nagaland, Manipur, and Assam and accused India of using anti-Pakistan rhetoric to unify its fractured society.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s military claimed to have shot down an Indian drone near the de facto Kashmir border, state radio reported Tuesday, amid heightened tensions following the deadliest civilian attack in the region in years.
The Indian army also said that both sides exchanged fire for a fifth straight night along the Line of Control (LoC), a heavily fortified zone of high-altitude Himalayan outposts.There was no immediate confirmation from Pakistan on the exchange of fire but state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported that the military had shot down an Indian “quadcopter,” calling it a violation of its airspace.
Relations between the nuclear-armed neighbors have plummeted after India accused Pakistan of backing an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir on April 22 in which 26 men were killed.Islamabad has rejected the charge and both countries have since exchanged gunfire in Kashmir, diplomatic barbs, expelled citizens and ordered the border shut.
The unmanned Indian aircraft had attempted to conduct surveillance along the LoC in the Manawar Sector of the Bhimber area, the Radio Pakistan report said.It did not say when the incident happened. There was no comment from New Delhi.
India said the “Pakistan Army resorted to unprovoked small arms firing across the Line of Control” overnight Monday to Tuesday. The gunfire took place in areas opposite Kupwara and Baramulla districts, as well as in the Akhnoor sector, it said.
The Indian army said its troops had “responded in a measured and effective manner to the provocation.” There were no reports of casualties.India has said is the deadline for Pakistani citizens to leave.
