Pakistan reserves right to retaliate against Indian aggression: Qureshi

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Tuesday said Pakistan reserves the right to self-defence and a befitting response to Indian aggression, ARY News reported.

He was chairing an emergency meeting at the foreign office in Islamabad to discuss the situation of regional peace following the Indian air force’s violation of line of control (LoC).

The meeting was attended by former foreign secretaries and senior diplomats, and held consultations over the prevailing situation.

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Reacting over violation by Indian aircraft, Qureshi said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government wanted to destabilise the region due to upcoming polls in India.

“Pakistan Armed Forces are fully capable of defending the motherland,” he continued.

In the wee hours today, Indian aircraft intruded the LoC near Muzaffarabad sector, however they scrambled back following timely response from the Pakistan Air Force (PAF).

Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Major General Asif Ghafoor in a tweet said Indian Air Force violated the LoC and the prompt response of Pakistan Air Force compelled the Indian jets to go back.

He said “facing timely and effective response from the PAF, [Indian jets] released [their] payload in haste while escaping, which fell near Balakot.” However, no casualties or damage was reported during the incident, DG ISPR added.