MEA Rejects ‘Preposterous’ Claim of Another Attack on Pakistan

Pakistan FM Shah Qureshi said that the government has “reliable intelligence that India is devising a new plan”.

File image of Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

(Photo: Twitter/@pid_gov)

The Ministry of External Affairs, on Sunday, 7 April responded to Pakistan's foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s statement about India “planning another attack on Pakistan” this month. Pakistan had summoned the Indian deputy high commissioner Gaurav Ahluwalia and issued a demarche warning New Delhi “against any misadventure,” according to an Indian Express report.

The ministry rejected Qureshi’s claims calling them ‘irresponsible and preposterous.’  

In a statement, the MEA spokesperson said that the claims came with an objective of whipping up war hysteria in the region, as reported by NDTV.

In the statement, the ministry again asked Pakistan to take credible and irreversible steps against terrorism operating from its country.

“Pakistan need to take credible and irreversible action against terrorism operating from all territories under its control rather than making hysterical statements to obfuscate the core issue that bedevils our region: Cross border terrorism.”

MEA Statement.

“Pakistan has been advised to use established diplomatic and DGMO channels to share actionable and credible intelligence it has about terror attacks. India reserves the right to respond firmly and decisively to cross border terrorist attacks,” the statement said.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Sunday, 7 April claimed that his government has reliable intelligence that India is planning another attack against the country between 16-20 April, according to a media report.

Tensions flared up between India and Pakistan after a suicide bomber of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Muhammed (JeM) killed 40 CRPF personnel in Kashmir’s Pulwama district on 14 February.

Amid mounting outrage, the Indian Air Force (IAF) carried out a counter-terror operation, hitting the biggest JeM training camp in Balakot, deep inside Pakistan on 26 February.

The next day, Pakistan Air Force retaliated and downed a MiG-21 in an aerial combat and captured an IAF pilot, who was handed over to India on 1 March.

Qureshi during a press conference in Multan said that the government has "reliable intelligence that India is devising a new plan", Dawn newspaper reported.

"Preparations are being made, and there are chances of another attack against Pakistan. According to our information, the action could be taken between 16-20 April," the paper quoted Qureshi as saying.

"A new mishap could be staged... And its purpose will be to justify their (India's) offensive against Pakistan and to increase diplomatic pressure against Islamabad," he alleged.

“If it happens, you can imagine the impact of the occurrence on the peace and stability of the region,” he added.

Qureshi said that Pakistan has already briefed the United Nations Security Council's permanent members over the issue and stated Pakistan's apprehensions.

"We want the international community to take notice of this irresponsible behaviour and reprimand them [India] for taking this route," he said.

(With inputs from PTI, Indian Express and NDTV)