Pakistan will strike back if India launches an attack following last week’s Kashmir suicide bombing Prime Minister Imran Khan has warned, even as he said he hoped better sense would prevail.
The Pakistani leader said that if Delhi responded against Pakistan following the killing of at least 40 police in the disputed Kashmir region last week, the country “will not merely think of retaliation, but rather, we will retaliate. And after that where will it head?” India blames Islamabad for the attack on paramilitary officers in Pulwama which was claimed by Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammad. Pakistan has denied the claims.
Delhi has come under intense pressure to act after public outrage at the deadliest ever attack on Indian forces in Kashmir and has threatened a “jaw-breaking response”. As Indian security forces continued a crackdown in the disputed territory, Delhi’s commander in the region told mothers they should get their sons to surrender or see them killed.
Pakistan denies any role in the bombing of a security convoy and has challenged Delhi to show its evidence.
Mr Khan said: “I have an offer for the Indian government, if you have any actionable evidence, share it with us and we will take action.
Narendra Modi, India’s prime minister who faces a general election this spring, is under pressure to exact vengeance. Paksitan’s military has a long history of sponsoring militant groups as a foreign policy tool and India has for decades accused it of stoking unrest in Kashmir.
“We are ready to cooperate with India in the investigations. I hope better sense will prevail,” Khan added.