Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday said Islamabad would not let anyone "cast an evil eye on Pakistan", while heading a Cabinet meeting to review the worsening relations with India. "The nation is standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the valiant armed forces to defend the motherland," he added, according to The Express Tribune.
Sharif's remarks follow the Indian Army's "surgical strikes on terror launchpads" along the Line of Control early on Thursday, which Director General of Military Operations Lieutenant General Ranbir Singh announced at a press conference. Pakistan, however, had dismissed the operation as cross-border firing.
The Pakistani prime minister further said that the territorial dispute with India over Kashmir was "unfinished business of Partition". The report quoted Sharif as saying, "Indian atrocities in held Kashmir are unacceptable" and that it will not "crush Kashmiris' right to self-determination".
Relations between the two countries have deteriorated since the September 18 militant attack on an Army base in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri sector. The toll in the strike rose to 19 on Friday, as a soldier succumbed to his injuries in hospital. India believes the attack was orchestrated by the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed terror outfit. However, Pakistan said the allegations levelled against it were baseless.
Pakistan has also held India responsible for the crisis in the Kashmir Valley since the death of Hizbul Mujahideen leader Burhan Wani on July 8. Sharif had that the Uri attack could be a fallout of the alleged human rights violations in the region over the past few months.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!