ISLAMABAD: Amid India’s unrelenting provocative measures following its reckless missile attacks on civilian targets in Pakistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif told US Secretary of State Marco Rubio that “Pakistan reserves the right to act in self-defence.”
PM Shehbaz received a telephone call from Secretary Rubio on Thursday in which they discussed the evolving situation in the South Asian region, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.
The development came on a day when Pakistan’s military neutralised 25 Israel-supplied Harop drones – called loitering munition – sent by India over multiple cities, including some major urban centres, in a move that sharply escalated tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
The prime minister conveyed Pakistan’s strong condemnation of India’s missile and drone strikes that has led to the death of 31 civilians and damage to civilian infrastructures.
“India’s attacks have violated Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, while gravely jeopardising peace and stability in the South Asia region,” he added.
PM Shehbaz reaffirmed Pakistan’s firm resolve to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity at all costs. “The people of Pakistan are outraged by India’s unprovoked acts of war,” he further said and stressed that Pakistan reserves the right to act in self-defence, in accordance with Article-51 of the UN Charter.
The premier appreciated US President Donald Trump’s concern over the current security situation in South Asia. Rubio said the United States is closely following the situation in South Asia as it is committed to promoting peace and stability in the region.
He also stressed the need for both Pakistan and India to work closely to deescalate the situation. Both sides agreed to remain in touch, according to the PMO statement.
