PTI stresses strong, decisive response to India’s aggression

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s political and core committees, in a joint meeting on Friday, strongly condemned Indian aggression and criticised the federal government for its lack of response, labelling it as “incompetent and illegitimate.”

In a post-meeting statement, PTI expressed deep regret that the “centres and followers of Hindutva” have not been held accountable for the desecration of mosques and the martyrdom of innocent people. The committees condemned what they described as India’s “cowardly, unprovoked, and criminal” aggression and extended condolences to the families of victims.

The statement criticised the Shehbaz Sharif-led coalition for its “inaction and confusion”, accusing it of emboldening India through its failure to respond decisively. The PTI called for a comprehensive national strategy aligned with ground realities and national sentiment.

It demanded immediate release of former prime minister Imran Khan and the convening of an all-party conference with his participation to forge national unity and craft a multi-pronged policy to counter Indian hostility.

The committees also decried the alleged denial of access to Imran Khan by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister, terming it detrimental to national unity. The party condemned what it called an “illegal state campaign” of oppression against peaceful citizens and the PTI workers, urging the government to prioritise national security over political vendettas.

The party also rejected the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on military trials of civilians and vowed to resist it through all legal means.

Lashing out at government ministers, especially the defence minister, the PTI said their “ineffective and incompetent” statements were worsening the crisis. The party stressed the need for leadership capable of confronting India with strength and called for enhanced security for Imran Khan.

Finally, the statement denounced state actions taken in the aftermath of the May 9 incidents, demanding justice and immediate release of all its arrested workers, especially women, who it claims were wrongfully targeted.

Separately, PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram Friday condemned what he called RSS-driven India’s persistent drone strikes on Pakistani territory, urging the government to abandon its policy of appeasement and deliver a bold, decisive response to the “naked aggression”.

In a strongly worded statement, Waqas criticised the government’s indecision and lack of action, warning that continued silence would only embolden the Hindutva regime. He stressed that the Indian leadership only responds to strength, not diplomatic niceties, and called for a forceful, unified strategy to deter future attacks.

He questioned former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s silence over the issue, terming it “deeply troubling”, and warned that India’s unprovoked attacks — which he said had caused dozens of civilian casualties — were a matter of national sovereignty and pride.

Waqas urged immediate release of PTI founder Imran Khan, calling him the only leader capable of uniting the nation and leading a comprehensive defence strategy. He said Pakistan should follow India’s example of building political consensus in wartime, pointing to Narendra Modi’s meetings with opposition leaders and state chiefs.

He criticised the ruling coalition for allegedly prioritising political vendettas over national security, particularly the continued targeting and military trials of PTI leaders and workers. He also lambasted federal ministers for making “reckless and embarrassing” public statements that, he said, have harmed Pakistan’s global image.

Waqas concluded by warning that while PTI does not seek conflict, the party and the nation will not allow aggression to go unanswered, and demanded immediate, decisive action to protect Pakistan’s territorial integrity.

Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, Omar Ayub Khan, currently hospitalised with double pneumonia, has strongly condemned India’s unprovoked aggression along the Line of Control (LoC), calling it a blatant violation of international law and a grave threat to regional peace.

In a statement issued on Friday, he expressed full solidarity with Pakistan’s armed forces, including soldiers, pilots, sailors, and airmen defending the country’s borders. He termed the reported Indian missile strikes “unjustified, provocative, and dangerous,” warning that such actions could destabilise the entire South Asian region.

The PTI leader accused Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of failing to respond firmly, claiming his “appeasement of Modi” was driven by the Sharif family’s alleged business ties with Indian industrialist Sajjan Jindal, chairman of the JSW Group.

Omar urged the international community to look beyond Indian propaganda and take serious note of its aggressive conduct. He called for Pakistan to raise the issue at international platforms, including the United Nations, International Court of Justice, and World Bank, asserting that firm and credible leadership was essential to advocate effectively on the global stage.