After the IAF airstrikes were carried out at multiple terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), a defiant and flabbergasted Pakistan on Tuesday said that Islamabad will respond to any "uncalled aggression" from New Delhi and warned India to be prepared for any "events of eventualities."
"The situation is very grave right now. We will act, not react. We reserve the right to retaliate. Pakistan will respond to such 'uncalled aggression' from India and our armed forces are prepared for any 'events of eventualities'," said Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, after the National Security Committee (NSC) meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Accusing India of "violating" the Line of Control (LoC), Qureshi acknowledged that the IAF fighter jets entered Pakistani territory and claimed that its air force "immediately scrambled" to respond to the situation.
"India's action is a violation of our sovereignty. And, we will definitely engage," he added.
Reiterating Khan's remarks that if India gave "actionable evidence" in connection to the Pulwama terror attack, Qureshi said that Pakistan will "sincerely" initiate an investigation.
He further said that a three-member committee has been formed, comprising Pakistan's foreign minister, finance minister and defence minister to approach the Parliament, so that the people of the country "can be taken into confidence on the evolving situation," according to The Dawn.
Asked whether the Kartarpur corridor project would be affected by the current situation, Qureshi said, "Pakistan fulfilled this dream. This is a message of peace that we gave. Hopefully, India will reciprocate it."
He further said that Pakistan will take international media to the area of aerial strikes, adding that, "helicopters are being readied (to recee the spot) and right now weather is bad and will fly when weather permits."
Earlier today, the NSC "rejected" India's "claims of targetting terror camps in Balakot and "heavy casualties."
"This action has been done for domestic consumption in an election environment, putting regional peace and stability at grave risk," a statement from the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) party read.
It added that India "committed uncalled aggression to which Pakistan shall respond at the time and place of its choosing."
The Pakistan Prime Minister has directed the armed forces to "remain prepared for all eventualities." He has summoned a special meeting of NCA on Wednesday.
Earlier today, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said India had hit the largest Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) camp in Balakot in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, eliminating a "large number" of terrorists, including top commanders.
The terror camp in a thick forest area atop a hill was led by Ustad Gauri, brother-in-law of JeM chief Masood Azhar, Gokhale said, making a statement before the media, hours after the air strikes using Mirage 2000 were carried out.
He said the "pre-emptive" strike by India had become absolutely necessary as there was credible information that JeM, which recently carried out terror attack in Pulwama, was planning further attacks in this country.
A large number of Jaish terrorists, including top commanders, trainers and those terrorists who were to be the 'fidayeen' (suicide attackers) were eliminated in the "non-military" air strike, the Foreign Secretary said.
The Indian action came 12 days after JeM carried out a terror attack on a CRPF convoy in Pulwama in south Kashmir, killing around 40 personnel and injuring five others.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)