April 4, 2003	Friday	Safar 1, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, April 3: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali said on Thursday any misadventure in the garb of a pre-emptive strike by India would be met with full force by the people and the armed forces of Pakistan.

Talking to reporters after a briefing in the ministry of information, the prime minister termed Wednesday’s statement by Indian Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha about pre-emptive action against Pakistan as pointless.

“If they are thinking of pre-emptive action, Pakistan knows how to defend itself and respond to any misadventure,” he said.

On Iraq war, Mr Jamali said that Pakistan wanted an immediate end to the war. In this connection, he pointed out that there was need for intervention by the United Nations, the Arab League and the OIC.

“Nobody appreciates action against humanity,” he said.

The prime minister said Pakistan sympathized with the people of Iraq and wanted an immediate end to their agony. He said he had directed providing humanitarian aid for the Iraqi people for which arrangements were being made.

At the information ministry, Mr Jamali was briefed about the functioning of the ministry, and Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad later said the prime minister had agreed to the opening of a TV channel in Mirpur, Azad Kashmir.

Mr Rashid Ahmad also said Mr Jamali had approved Rs400 million to enable PTV to purchase new equipment, including cameras and modernization and replacement of old equipment. The prime minister approved renaming the ministry as the ministry of information and broadcasting.