Pervez Khattak says both Pakistan, India can’t afford war

NOWSHERA: Federal Minister for Defence Pervez Khattak has said both Pakistan and India are nuclear powers and cannot afford to wage a war.

“The clear and bold stance taken by Prime Minister Imran Khan has forced the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to start talking of parleys to resolve issues,” he said while talking to reporters on Sunday.

The defence minister was accompanied by Member National Assembly Dr Imran Khattak, MPAs Liaquat Khan Khattak, Mian Jamsheddudin Kakakhel and others.

Pervez Khattak said India was deliberately creating a war-like situation in the region and had launched baseless propaganda against Pakistan.

He said India had been exposed in the comity of nations because of brutalities its security forces were unleashing in the Indian Occupied Kashmir. “There should be a halt to this oppression and the Kashmiris should be given the right to self-determination.

Pakistan had great importance in the region and nobody could deny this fact, the minister said. He recalled that the prime minister in his very first address to the nation had invited his Indian counterpart to negotiations for all thorny issues, including Kashmir.

He said the time had come now to give rights to the people of Indian Occupied Kashmir. “The people of the occupied Kashmir can no longer be kept enslaved,” he said.

Pervez Khattak said that the country’s defence was in strong hands. “Pakistan cannot be browbeaten by India. The nation fully backs the armed forces. Our armed forces will respond well to any aggression by India,” he vowed.

Talking about the recent visit by the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Muhammad bin Salman, the defence minister said the kingdom was planning a huge investment in Pakistan. “It will end unemployment and strengthen the country’s economy,” he expressed the optimism.

The defence minister hoped Pakistan would join the ranks of the developed nations under the able leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan. “Malaysia and other Islamic countries will invest in Pakistan. This will bring prosperity to our country,” he concluded.