Wahid Bhat
SRINAGAR : Senior national Conference and former Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Mohammad Akbar Lone said that War between India and Pakistan is not an option, urges world to work for promoting peace in South Asia.
While speaking to News agency Press Trust of Kashmir, Lone said “Going for war is not an option at all. The reason is both the countries need economic development and have to work for the welfare of the people”.
He added that if India and Pakistan goes with war there will be no place in south Aisa which is safe for any one. If India and Pakistan goes for war, there will be no place safe in India and Pakistan.
“It is not about Kashmir issue. It is about South Asia. India and Pakistan should come together and solve issue peacefully. War is not an option at all. Especially among two nuclear-powered countries” Lone added.
Akbar Lone further added that thinking about war is unimaginable. “Government of Pakistan and India should resolve all the issues including that of Kashmir through dialogue as per international legality”.
“As Kashmir issue is central to the relations between Islamabad and New Delhi, a solution to it is a key for their relations to improve. Though both the countries have tried several formulae from diplomacy to talks to war for settling the issue -no formula has succeeded. Yet, talks remain the best option to settle the issue”, Lone added.
Akbar Lone added that it is the time when both countries should understand that they have to find a way to discuss these issues, if they really care about people.
“Because of Kashmir issue the situation of south Asia will be more tense. As soon as possible to both countries need to find a way to solve Kashmir issue, he said.
Earlier the government of Pakistan said it’s air force shot down two Indian aircraft inside Pakistani airspace on Wednesday after the Indian Air Force crossed the line of control the de facto border between the two countries in Jammu and Kashmir.
The alleged incident comes a day after Indian jets launched airstrikes in Pakistan territory in the first such incursion since the 1970s, and if confirmed, would mark a major escalation of hostilities between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
Maj. Gen. Asif Ghafoor, spokesperson for the Pakistan armed forces, said in a tweet that one Indian aircraft fell inside Pakistan-administered Kashmir, while another fell within the Indian-administered region of Kashmir. One pilot had been arrested, he said.
A post from the official Twitter account of the Pakistan government confirmed that its air force had shot down the two planes, following strikes conducted by Pakistan.
DG ISPR tweet’ In response to PAF strikes this morning as released by MoFA, IAF crossed LOC. PAF shot down two Indian aircrafts inside Pakistani airspace. One of the aircraft fell inside AJ&K while other fell inside IOK. One Indian pilot arrested by troops on ground while two in area:
Meanwhile, a statement from the Pakistan Foreign Ministry said that Islamabad carried out aerial strikes on “nonmilitary targets” across the line of control (LoC) from within Pakistani airspace, while accusing India of “carrying out acts of terror in Pakistan.”
Pakistan said its strike was “not a retaliation” to the Indian operation and stressed that “Pakistan has therefore, taken strikes at nonmilitary target, avoiding human loss and collateral damage.”
“Sole purpose being to demonstrate our right, will and capability for self defense. We have no intention of escalation, but are fully prepared to do so if forced into that paradigm. That is why we undertook the action with clear warning and in broad daylight,” the statement said.
Earlier on Wednesday, Indian Foreign Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said the country does not want “further escalation” with Pakistan.
Speaking at a foreign ministers meeting between Russia, India, and China in Wuzhen, China, on Wednesday, Swaraj said Tuesday’s strike was “not a military operation” but “a preemptive strike against the militants’ infrastructure of Jaish-e-Mohammed.”
India blames militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) for a suicide car bomb attack in Pulwama in which almost 44 CRPF men were killed on 14 Feb. (PTK)
