ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan on Monday strongly rejected the Indian Ministry of External Affairs’ (MEA) statement regarding remarks attributed to Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, terming it “immature” and a distortion of facts.
The Foreign Office said the Indian narrative of alleged “nuclear blackmail” was “misleading and self-serving” and that Pakistan remained firmly opposed to the use or threat of use of force.
“India’s sabre-rattling and war-mongering whenever confronted invite unfounded allegations bereft of rationality,” the FO spokesperson said in a statement.
The spokesperson emphasised that Pakistan is a “responsible nuclear weapon state with an elaborate command and control structure under full civilian control” and has always exercised “discipline and restraint” on matters of such importance.
The FO also rejected what it called “spurious insinuations” about Pakistan’s counterterrorism record, saying the country’s “sustained and credible” efforts were internationally acknowledged and its security forces “remain the bulwark against terrorism”.
It expressed concern over the Indian MEA’s reference to “third countries”, describing it as a “futile attempt” to involve other states and an indication of India’s “lack of diplomatic confidence”.
