An emergency meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) on Wednesday authorized Pakistan’s armed forces to “undertake corresponding actions” against India to “avenge the loss of innocent Pakistani lives and blatant violation of its sovereignty.”
Chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the NSC convened following last night’s Indian strikes on several Pakistani towns and cities in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and Punjab province. According to a statement, the NSC deliberated upon the grave developments arising out of India’s unprovoked, cowardly and unlawful act of war.
It noted the Indian armed forces had launched coordinated missile, air and drone strikes on multiple locations within Pakistan, including Sialkot, Shakargarh, Muridke and Bahawalpur in Punjab, and Kotli and Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. “These unprovoked and unjustified attacks deliberately targeted the civilian areas, on the false pretext of presence of imaginary terrorist camps, resulting in the martyrdom of innocent men, women, and children, and causing damage to the civilian infrastructure, including mosques,” it said.
The statement said India’s act of aggression had also endangered commercial airlines of gulf countries, endangering the lives of thousands of passengers. “Besides, the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project was also deliberately targeted in violation of international conventions,” it added.
Unequivocally condemning these illegal acts as blatant violations of Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, constituting acts of war under international law, the NSC described the deliberate targeting of civilians by the Indian military as a heinous and shameful crime.
Stressing that Pakistan has repeatedly rejected Indian allegations claiming the presence of terrorist camps on its territory, the NSC recalled Islamabad had offered to cooperate with a credible, transparent and neutral investigation into the Pahalgam attack that India did not accept. It noted foreign journalists had visited the “imaginary terrorist camps” on May 6 and were set for more visits on May 7.
Right to self-defense
“However, apprehensive of its falsehood being exposed, and without a shred of evidence about its claims, the Indian leadership, bereft of any morality, has now gone to the extent of attacking innocent civilians in order to satiate its delusional thoughts and short-sighted political objectives,” it said, warning targeting of innocents was neither tolerable nor acceptable to Pakistan. “India, against all sanity and rationality has once again ignited an inferno in the region; the responsibility for ensuing consequences shall lie squarely with India,” it warned.
The NSC described the armed forces’ overnight response in line with the right of self-defense outlined in its April 22 statement, adding five Indian fighter aircrafts and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles were downed.
“In consonance with Article 51 of the U.N. Charter, Pakistan reserves the right to respond, in self-defense, at a time, place, and manner of its choosing to avenge the loss of innocent Pakistani lives and blatant violation of its sovereignty. The Armed Forces of Pakistan have duly been authorized to undertake corresponding actions in this regard,” it emphasized.
“Deeply anguished by India’s naked aggression, the entire Pakistani nation greatly appreciates and admires the bravery and courage of the armed forces and their timely action in the defense of their motherland. The nation stands galvanized and resolute in the face of any further aggression,” it vowed.
The NSC also urged the global community to recognize the gravity of India’s unprovoked illegal actions and to hold it accountable for its blatant violations of international norms and laws. “Pakistan remains committed to peace, with dignity and honor, and reiterates that it shall never allow any violation of its sovereignty, territorial integrity or permit any harm to its proud people,” it added.
Earlier, the forum offered Fateha for the souls of the innocent civilians martyred in India’s strikes, extending its heartfelt condolences to the near ones of the martyrs and wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.