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Pakistan says it is not preparing for war
Islamabad, June 18: A day after Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee accused Pakistan of preparing for a fourth war, a senior cabinet minister said today that Pakistan wants no such conflict, and welcomed further steps toward peace between the two countries.
Islamabad, June 18: A day after Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee accused Pakistan of preparing for a fourth war, a senior cabinet minister said today that Pakistan wants no such conflict, and welcomed further steps toward peace between the two countries.
``We are not preparing for a fourth war against India. We
do not want it,'' Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed
told in Islamabad, Pakistan's capital.
Vajpayee told a gathering in Madhya Pradesh yesterday that ``Pakistan has lost three times in wars. It is preparing to lose a fourth time.''
Ahmed said Pakistan wants peaceful negotiations, including over Kashmir. ``This has been our policy, and this is what we want,'' he said.
He insisted that the insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir is an ``indigenous movement'' and militants were not crossing over from Pakistan.
Ahmed said Pakistan does not have hostile designs against any country.
``We want peace, but if war is imposed on us, then we know how to defend ourselves,'' he said.
Bureau Report
Vajpayee told a gathering in Madhya Pradesh yesterday that ``Pakistan has lost three times in wars. It is preparing to lose a fourth time.''
Ahmed said Pakistan wants peaceful negotiations, including over Kashmir. ``This has been our policy, and this is what we want,'' he said.
He insisted that the insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir is an ``indigenous movement'' and militants were not crossing over from Pakistan.
Ahmed said Pakistan does not have hostile designs against any country.
``We want peace, but if war is imposed on us, then we know how to defend ourselves,'' he said.
Bureau Report