PM Shehbaz Warns India of Strong Response if War Is Imposed: Khawaja Asif

NEW YORK:Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif warned India that Pakistan would respond forcefully if a war were imposed on the country, as it did last year.

Speaking to the media in New York, the defence minister said the previous government had adopted a policy toward Afghanistan to prolong its tenure in power, adding that the current government had no connection with that policy.

Khawaja Asif said the previous Afghan policy had created challenges for Pakistan, which the country was now dealing with.

He said Pakistan was currently removing the obstacles created by that policy and addressing the resulting security challenges.

The defence minister said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had highlighted all major issues facing Pakistan and the international community during his address to the United Nations General Assembly.

He added that the prime minister had clearly warned India that if war was imposed on Pakistan, the country would respond in the same manner as it had done during last year’s confrontation.