Addressing his fellow Pakistanis amid the ongoing tensions with India, President Alvi emphasised that Pakistan was “a reality and India should accept facts and not make the mistake to view it in a pre-partition light.”
“Doing so would be very dangerous for the region’s stability,” he said, according to Pakistani TV channel Geo News.
“Responding to Indian aggression was our right. Through our plan of action, we responded to India immediately and effectively,” Alvi noted, while accusing India of an “irresponsible” attitude amid the tensions.
“After the Pulwama attack, India blamed Pakistan without any evidence. India did not adhere to international laws and violated Pakistan’s airspace,” Alvi said, referring to the February 14 attack on an Indian security convoy in the Indian-controlled area of Kashmir by Pakistan-based Islamist militants, which prompted the Indian military to retaliate by targeting a militant camp on the Pakistani side of the border in late February.
President Alvi stressed that Pakistan has respect for the sovereignty of all countries, “and wishes peace, but our desire for peace should not be mistaken as a sign of weakness.” Emphasising that Pakistan “believes in dialogue” in solving the diplomatic spat, the president suggested that “instead of wars, we should focus on providing health, education and employment. Our real war is against unemployment and poverty,” he said.