Ready to respond to any 'misadventure' by India: Pakistan warns after India foils infiltration bid

The civil and military leadership of Pakistan, during a National Security Committee (NSC) meeting, called on Sunday, reaffirmed Pakistan’s resolve to respond to any "misadventure or aggression" by Indian forces, a press release by the Prime Minister's Office said as reported by Dawn News.

The meeting was summoned by Pakistan PM Imran Khan.

The meeting was attended by country's Defence Minister Pervez Khattak, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, and other top civil and military leaders.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) government has issued an order for reactivation of defence committees (VDCs) in nearest areas of LoC.

Imran Khan on Sunday said time has come for taking up the offer given by US President Donald Trump that he will mediate to solve the Kashmir issue.

Saying India attacked across LoC on innocent civilians, Khan, who was elected as the PM of Pakistan last year, tweeted: "I condemn India's attack across LOC on innocent civilians & its use of cluster munitions in violation of int [sic] humanitarian law and its own commitments under the 1983 Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons. UNSC must take note of this international threat to peace & security."

He said: "It is time to end the long night of suffering for the people of Occupied Kashmir. They must be allowed to exercise their right to self determination according to UN SC resolutions.The only road to peace & security in South Asia runs through a peaceful & just settlement of Kashmir." 

On the issue of Trump, he said, "President Trump offered to mediate on Kashmir. This is the time to do so as situation deteriorates there and along the LOC with new aggressive actions being taken by Indian occupation forces. This has the potential to blow up into a regional crisis."

Imran Khan had visited the US and met Trump recently.

It was during that meeting that Trump had offered to help resolve the Kashmir issue between India and Pakistan.

Trump had said: “If I can help, I would love to be a mediator.” “If I can do anything to help, let me know,” he added, according to reports.

"I was with Prime Minister Modi two weeks ago and we talked about this subject and he actually said 'Would you like to be a mediator or arbitrator', I said 'Where', He said 'Kashmir'. Because this has been going on for many, many years... I think they would like to see it resolved and you (Imran Khan) would like to see it resolved. If I can help, I would love to be a mediator," President Trump said at the joint media briefing with Imran Khan.

The US has held for long that the Kashmir issue should be sorted by India and Pakistan bilaterally.

India rejected Trump's claim:

In response to query on President Trump’s remarks, India's Ministry of External Affairs said no such request  has been made by the Prime Minister to the US President.

"It has been India's consistent position that all outstanding issues with Pakistan are discussed only bilaterally. Any engagement with Pakistan would require an end to cross border terrorism. The Shimla Agreement and the Lahore Declaration provide the basis to resolve all issues between India and Pakistan bilaterally,” the MEA spokesperson said.

Developments in Kashmir:

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday chaired a 'high level' meeting with Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on the Kashmir issue in the Parliament complex here.

The meeting was also attended by Intelligence Bureau Chief Arvind Kumar, RAW chief Samant Kumar Goel and senior Home Ministry officials.

"The Government is reviewing the security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir as terror threats are looming over the Amarnath Yatra," an official in the Home Ministry told UNI.

The evacuation of the Amarnath Yatris and tourists from the valley is a major challenge for the Government as of now, the official said.

Shah is likely to visit Kashmir after the current Parliament Session is over.

Intelligence agencies have also alerted the Government and security agencies that a large number of militants are waiting at launchpad across the border to sneak into Indian territory.
.
The Indian Army foiled the Pakistan Army’s infiltration attempt on the intervening night of July 31-Aug 1 in Keran Sector of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Indian soldiers foiled the attempt by Pakistan's Border Action Team (BAT),  inflicting heavy causalities on the infiltrating terrorists and BAT personnel.

The encounter left at least four  killed while they were trying to infiltrate into India and strike a forward post in the Keran sector, sources told IBNS.

The Indian Army on Friday said that intelligence reports have revealed that terrorists backed by the Pakistan Army are trying to disrupt the Amarnath Yatra. In an advisory given by the Jammu and Kashmir government, all tourists have been asked to leave the valley.

The army said snipper rifle and landmine were recovered on the path where the pilgrimage takes place.

The Army made the revelations at a time when the country is gearing up to celebrate the August 15 Independence Day.

Intelligence sources told IBNS that a Pakistan emboldened by the visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan to the United States, has reactivated its terror launch pads against India in the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) with plans to trigger something big in Kashmir.

"Terror launch pads in PoK, which were dismantled and pushed back to interior, have now been reactivated," sources told IBNS.

According to Indian sources, Jaish-e-Mohammad chief  Masood Azhar's brother Ibrahim Azhar had been relocated to PoK to oversee the affairs. 

Image: Government of Pakistan Twitter page