ISLAMABAD, May 4: A Pakistani military official on Thursday criticised an Indian commander’s comments after he said an ongoing military exercise was aimed at dismembering its arch-rival in the event of a war.

The “irresponsible” statement did not bode well for the ongoing peace process between Pakistan and India, the official said.

“An army of the size of India does not require to brag about its capabilities; these are well-known to the military analysts,” said the official from the Pakistani military’s Inter-Services Public Relations who did not want to be named.

On Wednesday, officials in New Delhi said India’s top military strike force backed by aircraft were practicing war games aimed at slicing Pakistan in half in the event of an actual war.

The three-week exercises involving 40,000 Indian soldiers are being held near the Pakistani border. The Pakistani official hit back at the Indian commander’s comments.

“These statements can best be termed as a psychological effort to boost the sagging morale of Indian army that has gone probably so low fighting internal strife and separatist movements,” the official said.—AFP