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India takes Pak threat easy

New Delhi, April 4
India today dismissed as “knee-jerk” reaction Pakistan’s threat to use “full force” to any Indian “misadventure” and asserted that if Islamabad gave up its politics of terror, there would be no talk of military tension.

“These are knee-jerk reactions which essentially arise from Pakistan’s sense of vulnerability, which in turn arise from its sense of guilt,” External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna told reporters.

He was asked about Islamabad’s angry reaction to External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha’s assertion that India had the right to take pre-emptive military action against Pakistan on the lines of US war against Iraq if one were to take into account considerations that it had weapons of mass destruction and that it continue to be the epicenter of terrorism.

Pakistan would retaliate with “full force” if India launches pre-emptive strikes, Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali said, adding that “the people of Pakistan and armed forces would give a befitting reply.”

Also striking an aggressive posture on Mr Sinha’s remarks, his Pakistani counterpart Khurshid Muhammad Kasuri said “Pakistan rejects the doctrine of pre-emption. Its security, however, is not based on mere legal doctrines. Any misadventure by India will be met with full force.”

“If Pakistan would only give up its politics of terror, then there would be no talk of military tension, leave alone talk of pre-emptive action,” Mr Sarna said. “Pakistan instead of focusing on imaginary scenarios should focus on the action they need to take on the ground. Then, they would make these imaginary scenarios unimaginary,” he added. PTI