WEB DESK
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan today said that his country would take action if Delhi shares any ‘actionable evidence’ related to February 14 suicide attack on CRPF in Pulwama area of Jammu & Kashmir.
“Today, I would like to make the Indian government an offer. Any sort of investigation you wish carried out regarding this incident about the involvement of any Pakistani, we are ready for it”, Khan said.
“If you have any actionable intelligence that a Pakistani is involved, give it to us. I guarantee you that we will take action ─ not because we are under pressure, but because they (any individuals found involved) are acting as enemies of Pakistan,” Pak PM said.
In a video message, the Pakistan PM said he had wanted to respond to the attack right away because Delhi had accused Pakistan of having a hand in the attack, “but we had a very important visit from the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, we had an investment conference happening that we had been preparing for a long time,” he explained.
“First of all, you accused Pakistan. (There was) no evidence. You never thought: ‘What would be in it for Pakistan?’,” he said. “Would even a fool do such a thing to sabotage his own conference? And even if he (the crown prince) had not been visiting, what benefit would Pakistan get from it (the Pulwama attack)?”
While offering cooperation and another chance at a dialogue over the Kashmir issue, the Khan also warned against any act of aggression, saying Pakistan will not hesitate in retaliating to a provocation. However, he made it clear that he hopes better sense will prevail.
“Why would Pakistan, at this stage, when it is moving towards stability ─ we have fought a war against terrorism for 15 years, 70,000 Pakistanis have lost their lives, terrorism is receding, peace and stability are returning ─ what benefit would we get from it [the Pulwama attack]?” he asked.
“You wish to remain stuck in the past, and each time something happens in Kashmir, you want to hold Pakistan responsible. Instead of trying to resolve the Kashmir issue, start a dialogue or move forward, you want to make Islamabad your whipping boy again and again,” Khan said.
“I am telling you clearly, this is naya Pakistan. It is a new mindset, a new way of thinking. We believe that it is in our interest that our soil is not used for carrying out terrorist attacks in other countries, nor do we want outsiders to come and carry out terror attacks here. We desire stability,” he asserted.