Senate committee condemns Indian firing

Published September 11, 2015
Senator Mushahid Hussain chairing a meeting of the Senate Defence Committee at Parliament House.  — Courtesy Senate Secretariat
Senator Mushahid Hussain chairing a meeting of the Senate Defence Committee at Parliament House. — Courtesy Senate Secretariat

ISLAMABAD: Senator Mushahid Hussain on Friday chaired a meeting of the Senate Defence Committee at Parliament House during which a unanimous resolution was passed condemning 'unprovoked firing and shelling by India' along the Line of control (LOC) and Working Boundary.

The resolution stated that the committee feels that enduring peace, security and stability in South Asia can only be attained once India starts to abide its commitment to United Nations' resolutions regarding the right of self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

The resolution stated further that ever since Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Modi took over as the Indian Prime Minister, actions and statements of the Indian government have become aggressive, jingoistic and war like, even boasting about India's role in the dismemberment of Pakistan in 1971 and openly admitting covert operations against Pakistan using terrorists as an instrument of policy.

The committee also termed Modi's statement as unwarranted and aggressive.

The committee called upon the UN, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation(OIC) and other international organisations to take immediate notice of Indian aggression along the LoC and Working Boundary.

Speaking before the committee, Secretary Defence Lt.Gen (r) Alam Khattak warned India not to underestimate Pakistan's military might and said strong and befitting reply would be given if war is imposed.

"India wants to impose war but let it be known that both India and Pakistan are nuclear powers and eruption of a war would destroy both countries," Gen Khattak stated.

Senior military officials also briefed the committee on the occasion and said that, "Since June 9 of this year, Indian forces have committed 221 violations of the LoC ceasefire agreement in which 26 civilians were killed and 75 others injured."

“Indian forces routinely target civilian zones inside Pakistan, and Pakistan retaliates by returning fire on legitimate military targets only, and not civilian zones inside India,” the defence official maintained.

The committee also rejected PPP Senator Farhatullah Babur's objections over inclusion of Modi's name in the resolution.

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