Pakistan is in a state of “coma” after the army’s surgical strikes on militant bases across the Line of Control and shouldn’t take India’s silence for weakness, defence minister Manohar Parrikar said on Saturday.
In a press conference reported by television channels and agencies, the defence minister spoke out publicly for the first time since the army’s cross-LoC operation inflicted heavy casualties early Thursday.
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“If Pakistan continues with such conspiracies, we will give them a befitting reply again,” the minister was quoted as saying by ANI. He was possibly referring to an attack on an army base in Kashmir’s Uri by suspected Pakistani militants last month that left 19 soldiers dead.
“Pakistan didn’t probe the matter as it is still in shock after the surgical strikes.”
Relations between New Delhi and Islamabad have nosedived following the announcement of the strikes in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
{{/usCountry}}Relations between New Delhi and Islamabad have nosedived following the announcement of the strikes in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
{{/usCountry}}India has increasingly isolated its neighbor diplomatically both in the south Asian region and globally, with many of Pakistan’s old allies such as the United States and China refusing to take its side.
India and five other countries have pulled out of a Saarc summit, forcing Islamabad to defer the event.