Pak-India conflict 'unmistakably' bilateral: COAS

Express Tribune

5 days ago

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Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir on Thursday rejected the notion that the recent military conflict between Pakistan and India in May had any third party involvement, saying it was "unmistakably a bilateral confrontation".
His remarks came during the corps commanders conference held at the GHQ in Rawalpindi to review the internal security as well as regional developments. Chairing the meeting, Field Marshal Asim referred to the Indian army's baseless insinuations to offset its comprehensive defeat.
"Invoking third parties in what is unmistakably a bilateral military confrontation reflects a disingenuous attempt at bloc politics aimed at falsely projecting India's self-assigned role as a net security provider to accrue benefits in a region that is visibly growing disillusioned with Indian hegemonic ambitions and Hindutva driven extremism," the army chief stated.
The deputy chief of the Indian army had claimed last week that India was facing a two-front situation, referring to the role of China. However, Field Marshal Asim's statement suggested otherwise.
Pakistan may have close defence cooperation with China but the authorities said it was Pakistan's own planning and indigenous technology that helped defeat India and that New Delhi's effort to point a finger at China was an attempt to gain sympathy and support from the West.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the military, the corps commanders offered Fateha for the martyrs of recent terrorist attacks by Indian-sponsored proxies.
Taking stock of the recent successes against terrorist proxies, the forum resolved that "blood of our Shuhada will not go waste and the safety and security of people of Pakistan remain top-most priority" for the Armed Forces of Pakistan.
The forum strongly asserted that it was imperative to take decisive and holistic actions at all levels against the Indian-backed and sponsored proxies. Following its manifest defeat in direct aggression against Pakistan, post-Pahalgam incident, "India is now doubling down to further its nefarious agenda" through its proxies of Fitna al Khawarij and Fitna al Hindustan.
The army chief shared details of Pakistan's proactive and successful diplomatic manoeuvre, including recent visits to Iran, Turkiye, Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where Field Marshal Syed Asim accompanied Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the ISPR said.
The forum was briefed on the historic and unique visit of the COAS to the US, where meetings with top-tier leadership afforded an opportunity to share first-hand Pakistan's objective perspective on bilateral, regional and extra-regional developments.
The forum conducted a holistic review of the prevailing internal and external security dynamics, with particular emphasis on the recent developments in Middle East and Iran and growing propensity for "use of force" as a preferred policy tool, which warranted persistent development of self-reliant capabilities as well as national unity and resolve.
The forum was also briefed on Pakistan's Army's ongoing drive with quick adaptation towards evolving threat spectrum and changing character of war. The army chief appreciated the leadership of Pakistan Navy and Pakistan Air Force for further strengthening tri-services synergy.
In his concluding remarks, the army chief expressed full confidence in the operational readiness of the Pakistan Army against complete threat spectrum.