Pakistan will hit back if India resorts to military action: Musharraf

NEW DELHI: Former president Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday warned India that Pakistan would carry out a counter strike if New Delhi resorted to any military action against Islamabad in current circumstances of tension following a militant attack in occupied Kashmir, a private news channel reported.

The former military ruler, in an interview with an Indian channel, said Pakistan would strike at a time and place of its choosing if India waged war. “The persons who are talking about military retaliation — including your DGMO, your defence minister — should understand the consequences. The DGMO should learn a lesson of military that you have to wargame it till the end. If think you can strike at the time and place of your choosing, we will strike back at the time and place of our choosing. It doesn’t stop at your action; what will follow should also be considered,” he said in an interview from his residence in London.

About the attack on Indian Army headquarters in Uri, where 19 Indian soldiers were killed, he said there were not credible evidences to say that the attackers came from Pakistan. “The Indian government  is trying to say as if the Pakistan Army and the Pakistan government is involved,” he said. He said India was directly interfering in Balochistan and that was a serious matter.

He also condemned New Delhi’s decision to give political asylum to Baloch rebel leader Brahmdagh Bugti, who is currently living in Switzerland. “I totally condemn it, he shouldn’t be given any asylum. He’s a terrorist. You call of non-state actors in Kashmir, here in Balochistan it is state actor from your side, this is your state which is acting in Balochistan, which is more serious,” Musharraf said.Brahamdagh Bugti approached the Permanent Mission of India in Geneva for filing asylum papers on Tuesday.