ISLAMABAD Jan 15 (TNS): Senate Standing Committee on Defence Monday condemned the provocative and aggressive stupid statement of the Indian Army Chief where he openly boasted about crossing the border (launch military operation) against Pakistan.
The resolution passed unanimously by the Committee termed this war-like proclamation by the Indian Army Chief as part of a disturbing pattern of statements which have been reinforced by concrete actions on the ground, including the highest number of violations across the LOC//Working Boundary during 2017 and cross-border terrorism by India against Pakistan.
The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Senator Mushahid Huussain Sayed at the Parliament House and was attended among others by Senators Lt. Gen. (R) Abdul Qayyum, Farhatullah Babar, Seher Kamran, Col. (R) Tahir Hussain Mashhadi, Ilyas Bilour, Hidayatullah, Secretary Defence, and Additional Secretary Establishment Division.
The Resolution also expressed that it is no coincidence that the Indian Army Chief statement comes soon after the infamous tweet of President Trump against Pakistan and is timed with the visit of Benjamin Netanyahu to India, since the Modi-Trump-Netanyahu alliance have formed an ‘Anti-Muslim Axis’ based on bias, bigotry and racism.
“The Senate Defence Committee urges the international community to uphold the principles of international law, the United Nations Charter and norms of civilized behaviour, and reject this ‘Anti-Muslim Axis’. The Parliament and people of Pakistan stand by the valiant armed forces of Pakistan in uniting to give a befitting response to all forms of aggression, use of force and outside interference, a resolve reaffirmed during the recent visit of the Senate Defence Committee to Chakothi on the Line of Control and North Waziristan. The Senate Defence Committee urges the Government to take up this matter at all international fora and expose the malicious intent and aggressive role of India against Pakistan, and also condemns the atrocities in IOK, and calls for the early resolution of Kashmir issue accordingly to UN Resolutions”, the resolution noted.
The Committee also discussed the matter of appointment of ex-cadre officer as head of the Military Land and Cantonment Services Department, due to which the regular cadre officers of the said Service Group never get an opportunity to head the department raised by Senator Farhatullah Babar. The Committee was told during discussion that the summary for amendment in rules was not moved by Establishment Division but by ministry of defence. The Committee invoked Rule 187 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Senate and directed the Ministry of Defence and Establishment Division to share the summary moved by Defence ministry to the Prime Minister’s Office in October 2014 in original form before making a final decision on the matter. The Chairperson Committee, however, noted that rulings of Supreme Court on administrative matters are supreme and should be upheld by all departments concerned.
The Committee meeting was also given detailed briefing on Indian Army’s aggressive military actions and violations of ceasefire along Line of Control and Working Boundary. The Committee was told that a total of 3929 ceasefire violations since 2003 and number of causalities has reached 1428 sine 2003. The Committee was also given details of targeting of military truck in July 2017 which fell in Neelum River and targeting of Administrative party in Nezapir Sector in August 2017.
