We are with Kashmiris in their struggle for independence: DG ISPR – Pakistan

Major General Asif Ghafoor, general director of Public Relations between Services (ISPR), told the people of Kashmir occupied by Indians on Wednesday that the Pakistani armed forces supported them and will do everything possible to protect their lands.

Speaking at a press conference at General Headquarters about the situation in occupied Kashmir since the Indian government revoked its special autonomy, the army spokesman also said that an "appropriate response" will be given to any false flag operation organized by India.

"I want to give this message to the cashmere that we support them and we will continue to do so. It is sad that their struggle for independence has been presented as terrorism," he said.

"Kashmir is our jugular vein and we will do our best to protect it."

Major General Ghafoor began his press by saying that he would talk about the situation in the Kashmir occupied by the Indians and its effect on national security.

He said that the geographical situation of Pakistan cannot be ignored by regional countries or world powers.

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"India is a country with a large population, a follower of Hitler is in power [there]. The world community has interests in India.

"Then there is China, an emerging world power. China also has problems with India, but its economic relations with India are stable. Afghanistan has seen nothing but war, martyrdom and loss of life."

Major General Ghafoor said Pakistan has good relations with Iran, but due to the situation in the Middle East, Iran faces some problems. "But Iran has a huge role in regional peace."

& # 39; We have avoided climbing & # 39;

"In India, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Nazi ideology are in power. They endanger minorities, including Muslims and Dalits," he said, adding that the situation in India is such that there is no freedom religious or social there.

In occupied Kashmir, he said, the "fascist" government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has "uprooted Nehru's passage to the region."

In contrast, the armed forces have established peace in Pakistan and the country is also playing its role for regional peace.

"We have avoided escalation," he said of recent tensions with India over occupied Kashmir.

He said that Prime Minister Imran Khan in his first speech after taking office had extended an offer of dialogue to India "in response to which they sent two fighter jets and received an adequate response."

"Nuclear countries have no room for war," the military spokesman said.

& # 39; Kashmir is our jugular vein & # 39;

He said that India "indirectly continued to attack Pakistan," an example of which he said was the Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav.

"We are playing a role in the Afghan reconciliation process. If peace is established in Afghanistan, our troops deployed on the western border will probably be eliminated."

"Maybe India thinks it should take action against us that would weaken us. We want to tell India that wars are not only fought with weapons and economy, but also with patriotism."

"The vision of Quaid-i-Azam and our belief is that Kashmir is our jugular vein."

He recalled that there are United Nations resolutions on the conflict in Kashmir.

"Recently, Modi took an immoral step and repealed article 370 of the Indian constitution. This is no longer a conflict of ideologies."

He said that Pakistan has been waging a hybrid war for the past 20 years and considering the spectrum of the conflict, Pakistan's response options revolved around the economy, diplomacy, finances, intelligence, etc.

"For the first time in 50 years, the UN Security Council held a session on Kashmir. The Prime Minister and Foreign Minister have spoken with the heads and ministers of Foreign Affairs of several nations.

"Modi says he doesn't want mediation. If you don't want mediation, then what did you talk to? [US President Donald] Trump about? ", He said.

Thanking international and local media for effectively covering oppression in Kashmir, he said that the Kashmir issue, which was previously ignored by the world, has now attracted international attention.

"No step by the Indian authorities that does not lead to the self-determination of cashmere is acceptable to us," said Major General Ghafoor.

At the same time, he added, "Any isolated step by us that can divert attention from the Kashmir problem will be cruel to them.

"The armies protect the sovereignty of a nation. When that is threatened, war becomes an obligation rather than an election. It depends on India and the rest of the world."

"How can you think we can reach an agreement on Kashmir? We have not agreed to do so in 72 years, why would we do that now?" said the chief ISPR.

The press conference of Major General Ghafoor occurs amid intense tensions between India and Pakistan following the decision of the Indian government to unilaterally revoke article 370 of its constitution, which granted special autonomy to occupied Kashmir. A blackout of communications and strong restrictions on movement imposed by the Indian authorities since the eve of this development entered its 31st day today.

Following India's decision to repeal article 370, Pakistan lowered diplomatic relations with New Delhi and suspended all bilateral trade. The Indian ambassador was asked to leave and the train and bus services with India were also suspended.

& # 39; Army chief did not want extension & # 39;

In response to a question, Major General Ghafoor said that the decision to grant an extension to General of the Army General Qamar Javed Bajwa was a prerogative of the Prime Minister, who had exercised.

"The army chief did not want [an extension]. After more than 40 years of service, each person wants to return to normal life and rest, but has a personal relationship with the heads of many nations. It was the prerogative of the prime minister and he exercised it and hopefully it is worth it, "he added.

There is no policy of & # 39; no first use & # 39;

Responding to a question about the use of nuclear weapons, Major General Ghafoor said that this was a serious and political problem. "This is not discussed in press conferences or demonstrations," he emphasized.

He added: "It is not about weapons but about the confidence of the nation.

"India should think that our perpetual threat is only one and has been for the past 70 years. When it comes to the eastern border, everything is dedicated to it, the end point."

He said using deterrents was a political option. "We don't have a policy of & # 39; not first use & # 39 ;, these are weapons of deterrence," he added.

In response to a question about the Indian defense minister's suggestion that India could change its non-first use policy, Major General Ghafoor said. "If they (India) want to change their policy, then it is their choice. But there is one second after another."

"Statecraft does not work with emotions, but with reality. It is easy to make a popular decision than an intelligent decision."

He said the Kashmir problem will be solved "whether it takes a day or a year."

The head of ISPR said that India has been saying that Kashmir is a bilateral problem for the past 70 years. "What happened? How do you terrorize and discriminate and then say we will solve it?" he questioned.

"Pakistan has always tried to resolve this peacefully through talks at the table. Now the government has said that we will not expand unilateral offers of negotiations."

The military spokesman said the fight for freedom is now in the DNA of the cashmere.

"[Indian] The occupation forces face strong opposition from the people. The world will be with us and the cashmere. "

Afghan peace process

Speaking about the ongoing reconciliation process in Afghanistan, Major General Ghafoor said that Pakistan only has a unilateral stance on the final state in the neighboring country: that there is peace there.

He added that peace could be achieved through intra-Afghan dialogue in the last part of the reconciliation process.

Analyzing the fence on the border between Pakistan and Iran, he said that cooperation between Pakistani and Iranian forces has recently improved.

He said first that the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan was considered sensitive, so fences are being made there. "Now [militants] it had begun to infiltrate from the border between Pakistan and Iran and we feel it has become sensitive, "said Major General Ghafoor.

"We increased the forces of FC (Frontier Corps) there and now we are fencing," he said, adding that 70 percent of the work on the fence has been completed.

Pak-Israel Relations

On rumors about establishing relations between Pakistan and Israel, Major General Ghafoor said rumors like these spread as part of the "fifth generation war."

"We are the only country in the world whose passport rejects entry to Israel; we have had this position for the past 70 years," he said, adding that any change in this policy would be a "political decision."