India is not Israel, nor is Pakistan Palestine — our response will be swift if provoked: Pakistan army spokesperson

Pakistan Army spokesperson and Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, has issued a strong warning to India, stating that “India is not Israel, and Pakistan is not Palestine.” He emphasized that if India provokes or attacks, Pakistan’s response will be swift and forceful.

In an interview with Turkish news agency Anadolu, Lt Gen Chaudhry highlighted that Pakistan is currently the biggest victim of terrorism in the world, reporting over 3,700 terrorist incidents since January 2024. He accused India of backing and encouraging terrorism in Pakistan, stating that 3,896 people, including 2,582 civilians and security personnel, have been martyred in these attacks over the past 17 months.

The military spokesperson reiterated that Kashmir is an internationally recognized dispute, and what happens in Indian-occupied Kashmir or within India is not merely an internal matter, as often claimed by New Delhi. He stressed that Pakistan will never submit to Indian dominance, adding that India is not the U.S., and Pakistan is not Afghanistan.

General Chaudhry warned that it would be better for regional and global peace if India understood the limits of its power and rhetoric. Referring to the Pulwama-like attacks, he said India has failed to provide evidence and is using such incidents as a pretext for aggression.

He also revealed that the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), which carried out the attack on Jaffar Express, openly sought support from India, and several Indian politicians and retired military officers publicly backed the group.

Commenting on recent military clashes, the DG ISPR claimed that Pakistan shot down five Indian fighter jets, including three Rafale aircraft, during the latest period of tension. He asserted that while the international community knows the truth, India refuses to acknowledge its losses.