Pakistan claims India plans new action, summons deputy high commissioner

Pakistan on Sunday claimed India was planning new “action” between April 16 and 20, and summoned the Indian deputy high commissioner Gaurav Ahluwalia and issued a demarche warning New Delhi “against any misadventure”.

Pakistan on Sunday claimed India was planning new “action” between April 16 and 20, and summoned the Indian deputy high commissioner Gaurav Ahluwalia and issued a demarche warning New Delhi “against any misadventure”.

Responding to the issue, the Ministry of External Affairs said, “India rejects the irresponsible and preposterous statement by the Foreign Minister of Pakistan with a clear objective of whipping up war hysteria in the region.”

At a press conference in his home town of Multan, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the Pakistani government had “reliable intelligence that India is devising a new plan”. “A new mishap could be staged… And its purpose will be to justify their [India’s] offensive against Pakistan and to increase diplomatic pressure against Islamabad,” Qureshi alleged.

“If it happens, you can imagine the impact of the occurrence on the peace and stability of the region. According to our information, the action could be taken between 16 and 20 April,” Qureshi claimed, adding that Pakistan was preparing to respond.

The minister said Pakistan had already briefed the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council on the issue and stated Islamabad’s apprehensions. “We want the international community to take notice of this irresponsible behaviour and reprimand them [India] for taking this route,” Qureshi said.

The anticipated Indian action, he said, would impact peace and stability in the region. Qureshi also criticised the global community for keeping silent after India violated Pakistan’s territory on February 26 by striking Balakot.

Hours later, the spokesperson for Pakistan’s foreign ministry, Mohammad Faisal, posted on Twitter, “Indian DHC was summoned for demarche in line with FM’s briefing of today and warned against any misadventure.”

Tensions escalated sharply after India conducted airstrikes against a Jaish-e-Mohammad camp on February 26, days after the February 14 terrorist attack on CRPF personnel in Pulwama. On February 27, Pakistan carried out its own air action against India.

While the situation has eased considerably over the last few weeks, Sunday’s developments are likely to once again raise the temperature.

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