Islamabad, June 10
Pakistan on Wednesday said that India should not have any misconceptions about Islamabad since it is different as compared to Myanmar, an official statement said.

The Indian Army struck inside Myanmar on Tuesday and killed a number of insurgents believed to be involved in the killing of 18 Indians soldiers in Manipur on June 4.

Pakistani security forces were fully capable of responding to foreign aggression and Indian leaders should stop daydreaming, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said in response to recent statements by Indian politicians, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Dawn reported.

Prime Minister Modi, during his official visit to Bangladesh, last Sunday in Dhaka said the establishment of Bangladesh was a desire of every Indian citizen and that was why Indian forces fought along with the Mukti Bahini, thus creating a new country.

The interior ministry statement added that while Indian designs may have succeeded in the past, they would not do so in the future.

Earlier, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Wednesday said that the Indian prime minister’s statement was picking on old wounds.

He said Modi's statement soured the atmosphere of dialogue between the two countries.

Asif said the government would defend the nation and that if India spoke about teaching Pakistan a lesson, then Pakistan was capable of teaching India a lesson as well.

He said if India tried to do so, Pakistan would provide a befitting reply. He added that Pakistan did not want to spoil regional peace.

Indo-Myanmar operation a message to Pakistan?

 Even as voices emerged that the Indian Army operation against terrorists on the Myanmar side of the border contained a hidden message to Pakistan, experts said on Wednesday the scenario may not be the same on the Western border even though India has the capability to retaliate if provoked.

Asked if a similar approach could be replicatedd on India's Western border, an official said the situation on both sides was different.

"Defence and security strategy is something that evolves after one thinks through all the consequences of action or inaction; hence any premature celebration over the Myanmar swatting of terror groups would not only be wrong, but foolish," an official close to the security establishment told IANS on condition of anonymity as he is not authorised to speak to the media.

"We need to be clear that dealing with terrorists in Myanmar is different from dealing with the likes of the Lashkar-e-Taiba which has the active backing of the Pakistani army and the ISI," the official added.

"What worked in Myanmar will not work on our western borders against jihadi groups. For that, we need covert guerrilla action, not direct attacks," the official added.

Former Army Chief Gen. V.P. Malik (retd) said India had the capability, but such operation on the western border along with Pakistan may result in a small-scale war.

"We do have the capability (to launch similar attack along India-Pakistan border) but it does not mean we will react in that manner. It can escalate to a limited war, we have to be prepared for all those things in term of public opinion and international opinion," Gen. Malik told IANS.

Asked if both India and Pakistan being nuclear armed is a deterrent, Gen. Malik said: "A nuclear attack is unlikely as it will go against the whole world".

Former Army Chief Gen. N.C. Vij, in an interview to India Today Television said: "We have the capability, and such operations on the Western front may be carried out if government is ready for the consequences."

'Regrettable that Indian politicians take pride in interference'

Pakistan Army Chief Gen. Raheel Sharif has taken serious note of the recent hostile Indian rhetoric coupled with covert and overt actions to destabilise Pakistan.

Gen. Sharif, while chairing a formation commanders' conference on Wednesday, said it was highly regrettable that Indian politicians not only indulged in actions that were a violation of the UN charter but also took pride in claiming interference in the internal affairs of other states, Inter Service Public Relations said in a statement.

The forum reiterated its resolve to defeat Indian designs and defend Pakistan’s territorial integrity at any cost, with a "befitting response to any misadventure against Pakistan", during the meeting.

Reviewing the army’s operations in the country’s tribal areas, Gen. Sharif said terrorists have been cleared and dislodged from their strongholds in North Waziristan and Khyber Agency, adding that the offensive has now moved into the last few pockets close to the Afghan border.

The army chief said military operations would continue till elimination of the last terrorist group and sanctuary, and ordered commanders to take all measures to prevent trapped terrorists from escaping.

“With the entire nation standing behind us, we will remain focused on achieving the objective of a terror-free and peaceful Pakistan,” he said.

“Our main collective aim is to make Pakistan a secure, strong and prosperous country."

The conference was attended by corps commanders, principal staff officers and all formation commanders of the Pakistan Army.