ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Imran Khan and Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa Friday discussed the threats hurled by Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat and vowed to give a befitting reply if a war was imposed on the country.

The two leaders agreed that war with India should not be an option as the region needed peace to progress, officials said.

General Bajwa called on Prime Minister Khan at the Prime Minister’s Office. Director General Inter-Services Intelligence Lieutenant General Naveed Mukhtar was also present in the meeting.

“Security and regional stability situation were discussed during the meeting,” a statement from the PM’s Office said.

The two leaders showed satisfaction that the forces were ready to defend the country against any challenge and Pakistan’s desire for peace should not be taken as a weakness.

Last week, Indian Army Chief Bipin Rawat threatened Pakistan with ‘retaliation’ over its alleged involvement in the killing of a border guard and policemen in Occupied Kashmir.

Rawat’s remarks came a day after New Delhi called off a meeting scheduled between the foreign ministers of Pakistan and India in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

Later, Imran Khan tweeted: “Disappointed at the arrogant and negative response by India to my call for resumption of the peace dialogue. However, all my life I have come across small men occupying big offices who do not have the vision to see the larger picture.”

After the development, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said New Delhi had once again demonstrated hesitation, adding he was shocked and surprised with the development. “Dialogues are the only way to resolve all outstanding issues,” he asserted.

The minister said that Pakistan wished improvement in the region but New Delhi seemed to have other priorities.

Recently, the foreign ministry said the Indian forces had carried out hundreds of ceasefire violations along the Line of Control and the Working Boundary, resulting in the deaths of several civilians.

The ministry said the unprecedented escalation in ceasefire violations by India was continuing from the year 2017 when the Indian forces had committed 1,970 ceasefire violations.

In 2003, Pakistan and India had declared ceasefire along the LoC but in the recent months, India violated the peace deal numerous times. Tensions between Pakistan and India have been high since the killing of a Kashmiri freedom fighter, Burhan Wani, in July 2016.

An attack on Indian forces in September 2016 - that killed 19 soldiers in Uri area of Held Kashmir - further heightened the tensions. India also claimed it had carried a ‘surgical strike’ to avenge the Uri attack. Pakistan rejected the Indian claim.

NUCLEAR SECURITY

TRAINING COURSE

Pakistan Centre of Excellence for Nuclear Security, in collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency, organised an “International Training Course on Regulatory Authorisation for Nuclear Security during the Lifetime Stages of Nuclear Facilities” from September 24 to 28.

Participants from different countries including Egypt, Ghana, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Morocco, Nigeria, Sudan and Thailand underwent training along with trainees from Pakistan, the foreign ministry said yesterday.

Chairman Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority, Zaheer Ayub Baig, inaugurated the training course. The inauguration ceremony was also attended by diplomats from the Embassies of the participating countries.

The PCENS over the years has evolved into an internationally recognised training centre in the field of nuclear security and physical protection. During his 2016 visit to PCENS, the IAEA Director General appreciated the quality and diverse range of training programmes offered by PCENS. The centre is equipped with state of the art laboratories and other modern training facilities in various disciplines.

“Pakistan accords the highest priority to nuclear security. Its national nuclear security architecture has evolved over the years and is at par with international standards. Pakistan has developed significant capacity of its institutions for imparting nuclear security training to domestic and international participants,” a foreign ministry statement said.

PM, army

chief discuss Indian threats