MUZAFFARABAD: Alluding to a recent statement by his Indian counterpart, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa on Saturday made it clear that Pakistan was fully capable of defeating all threats to its defence and security.

Also on Saturday, in yet another ceasefire violation by Indian troops from across the restive Line of Control (LoC) an elderly resident of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) was killed in Poonch district.

“We are aware of defence and security challenges being faced by the country and we are capable to defeat all threats irrespective of the front,” said the army chief during his visit to the troops stationed along the LoC near Muzaffarabad, according to a handout by the army’s media affairs wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

Indian army chief Gen Bipin Rawat had stated on Thursday that the Indian army was “fully ready for a two and a half front war.”

Gen Bajwa’s statement was a clear reference to Gen Rawat’s veiled threat, though he did not name anyone directly.

Kashmiris on both sides of LoC hailed for determination against Indian brutalities

It was Gen Bajwa’s fifth visit in the current year to the LoC, one of the most heavily militarised frontiers in the world that splits the disputed region of Jammu and Kashmir between Pakistan and India.

Despite a truce agreement signed in November 2003, the LoC has been witnessing regular skirmishes and exchange of heavy fire between the rival armies, particularly after September last year when an Indian army base in Uri was attacked by suspected militants.

According to military sources, India has committed more than 400 ceasefire violations in the current year alone, causing a number of civilian casualties. Last year, India had made 382 ceasefire violations. On Saturday afternoon, Indian troops resorted to ceasefire violation ‘without any provocation’ in Battal sector of AJK’s Poonch district, killing an elderly civilian, officials said.

Shabbir Khan, who was in his late sixties, was busy in some household work in the courtyard of his house in Polas village when “trigger-happy” Indian soldiers hit him with a burst of fire at about 2pm, a police official in the area told Dawn by telephone.

“He died on the spot,” the official added.

The ISPR also confirmed his death and said that the Pakistan army “befittingly responded to silence Indian guns.”

After the latest incident of ceasefire violation, the number of AJK residents killed in Indian shelling since January this year has risen to nine while another 60 have sustained injuries.

It was against this backdrop, the COAS paid tribute to the Kashmiris on both sides of the LoC for their determination against Indian brutalities and reaffirmed Pakistan’s resolve to back their just cause.

“Pakistan will continue its support for right to self-determination to our Kashmiri brothers in IOK [India Occupied Kashmir],” he reiterated.

Earlier, the army chief, who was accompanied by Rawalpindi Corps Commander Lt Gen Nadeem Raza and other senior officials, was given a detailed briefing by a local commander about the operational situation, ceasefire violations by India and response by Pakistani troops.

While interacting with troops, the COAS appreciated their state of operational readiness, exemplary high morale and motivation for fulfilment of assigned mission.

“Troops unreservedly shared with the COAS their feelings about Indian atrocities and ceasefire violations, targeting innocent civilians and pledged that no Indian misadventure shall go without a befitting response,” the ISPR said.

The ISPR said that the COAS was also briefed on the ongoing communication infrastructure development by the Frontier Works Organisation in the area.

Appreciating the work, he said the army would continue to play its role in nation-building projects.

Published in Dawn, June 11th, 2017