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Corps commanders meeting Pakistan reserves right to respond to Indian aggression

RAWALPINDI: A meeting of the Corps Commanders, presided over by Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf here on Monday, said that India's blatant violations such as in the Iftikharbad Sector were intolerable and that the Pakistan Armed Forces reserved the right to respond appropriately.

The meeting, held here at the General Headquarters, concluded that India's cross-border state terrorism in Iftikharabad Sector was due to the growing frustration of the Indian army.

"The meeting concluded that the growing frustration of the Indian Army had led to this act of cross-border state terrorism, was the result of the Indian Government's inability to suppress the indigenous struggle of the Kashmiri people, the Indian Army's mounting casualties in occupied Kashmir, the failure of the Indian Government's efforts to implicate Pakistan in the recent hijacking of an Indian aircraft, combined with mounting domestic criticism of their handling of the affair and failure to get Pakistan declared as a terrorist state."

Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf appreciated the courage of the Pakistani troops who valiantly defended their country at the cost of their lives.

A detailed briefing was given on the incident that occurred on night 21st/22nd January 2000 wherein the Indian Armed Forces intruded across the Line of Control and attacked a Pakistani Post in the Iftikharabad Sector.

The Conference, which was attended by all the Corps Commanders and Principal Staff Officers, reviewed the prevailing geo-strategic environment, situation along the borders, recent development of Line of Control and other matters of national security.

General Musharraf also apprised the participants about his recent visit to Peoples' Republic of China and meetings with various foreign delegations.

On special invitation the Governors of all the four provinces Lieutenant General Mohammad Safdar (Retd), Lieutenant General Mohammad Shafique (Retd), Air Marshal Azeem Daudpota (Retd), Justice Amir ul Mulk Mengal (Retd), Adviser to Chief Executive on Media & National Affairs Javed Jabbar and Chairman National Reconstruction Bureau, Lieutenant General S.T.H. Naqvi (Retd), later participated in the Conference.

They were given in-depth briefing on effort of poverty alleviation in the country through small-scale public works projects by Federal Minister for Environment, Local Bodies and Rural Development Omar Asghar Khan.

The meeting also reviewed the functioning of the Army monitoring system.

The Chief Executive stressed the need for closer coordination among the monitoring teams and the provincial governments so that the pace of reforms and development work is accelerated.

He expressed his appreciation over the ongoing desilting operations and the overwhelming public support and participation in this important event. APP