PPP leader condemns airspace violation

Published December 15, 2008

LAHORE, Dec 14: Punjab PPP president Rana Aftab Ahmad Khan has condemned the air-space violations by Indian warplanes.

In a statement on Sunday, he said at a moment when both the countries were having strained relations, the ‘violation by mistake’ seemed quite strange.

He said India must know that Pakistan’s armed forces were ready to frustrate any attempt on the integrity and solidarity of the country.

He said the nation was united for the security of Pakistan and warned India not to test patience of a peace-loving country.

PTI: The intrusion of Indian warplanes into Pakistani airspace is simply one more deliberate provocative step on the part of India in the face of a constantly appeasing Pakistan government.

This was stated by Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf foreign relations spokesperson Dr Shireen Mazari.

The fact that the planes were fully equipped with weaponry showed the hostile Indian intent and the choice of Lahore and AJK demonstrated the dangerous game of brinkmanship India was now prepared to play against Pakistan – having acquired US support behind its orchestrated moves up the conflict scale, she said.

The Indian Air Force’s hostile act was not simply “inadvertent” as claimed by New Delhi, rather it was a means of testing Islamabad’s readiness for response and seriousness of intent at the military level, she added.

“This can only be regarded as the first warlike step by the Indian government and a brazen and irresponsible act by a nuclear power against a nuclear neighbour.”

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