Dubai: Pakistan Army Spokesperson Major General Asif Ghafoor said Pakistan is not pushing towards war in the wake of rising tensions on India-Pakistan border.
"Today's action was in self defence; we don't want to claim any victory. The way we set out target and made sure that there were no collateral damage; the in-built message was that despite our capability, we look towards peace," said Major General Ghafoor, Director General of Inter-Service Public Relations (ISPR). He was addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Wednesday after the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) shot down two Indian aircraft inside Pakistan airspace.
He said two Indian pilots were captured. "One is in custody while the other is under treatment in a hospital,” he said.
"Today morning, Pakistan Air Force engaged with six targets at the LoC remaining within our jurisdiction to carry out the strikes but no human life was affected," said the army spokesperson.
The DG ISPR said Pakistan's armed forces have capability, resolve and the nation’s support. “But because we are a responsible state and want peace, we decided first of all that we won’t take any military targets."
“Our planes locked targets, then in open air we carried out strikes," he explained giving out details of the air combat.
Accuracy
"We locked all targets with accuracy, and when we had option to fire, we acted responsibly from a safe distance. We have capability to do anything, but we don’t want escalation. We don’t want to go towards war," he reiterated.
"Two Indian jets entered Pakistani airspace and the PAF faced them. The two planes were shot down — one fell in our space and the other on their side. Two pilots were arrested — one of them was injured and has been taken to CMH (Combined Military Hospital) and will be given proper care. Another is in our custody," he said.
Refuting Indian media reports that a Pakistani F-16 jet was shot down, Major General Ghafoor said, "Pakistan did not use F-16 in any activity today."
Major General Ghafoor said: “The Pakistan government, armed forces and people of Pakistan have always conveyed a message of peace to India. The road to peace goes through dialogue. Both countries have the capability and capacity but war is the failure of policy, which India needs to understand.”
“We do not want to escalate and want to follow a path which leads to peace. The people of both countries and region at large have a right to live in peace. War is not the solution to problems. India should think with a cool head on this offer from Pakistan," he added.
Message of peace
He also called on the international community to play its role. “Pakistan is sending a message of peace and they should also come forward and see how the environment between India and Pakistan are a threat to peace not only to the two countries but the region and beyond.”
To a question on the use of nuclear weapons, Maj General Ghafoor said: "I have always said that we must not talk about this. It is insane to talk about this. It is a capability and a weapon of political choice. Neither is this our level nor is this a topic that should be talked about."
“Pakistan wants peace and India needs to understand war is a failure of policy,” he said.
