ISLAMABAD: Pakistan army chief Gen Asif Nawaz Janjua has ruled out the possibility of an armed conflict between India and Pakistan belying apprehensions expressed by Benazir Bhutto and other opposition leaders.
The former premier had stated in Lahore earlier this week that there could be a military confrontation between the two countries before September next year.
Talking informally to newsmen at a reception here Gen Janjua said the border skirmishes in the Poonch sector between Indian and Pakistan forces will not escalate into a war.
“The situation on the caste borders of the country is absolutely normal” he said.
‘A spokesman of the Pakistan foreign office had last Wednesday had stated that the border incidents were not of a serious nature.
Gen Janjua said there was no threat of war with India in the immediate future and added that the Pakistan forces were ready to face any threat. “We are professional soldiers and it is our priced duty to defend the geographical frontiers of the country” he said.
He said while there was sight tension on the borders it had considerably reduced following contacts between the directors general of military Operations Of the two countries.
The army chief when asked about a political settlement of the Siachen dispute said “better watch and see”.
He parried a question regarding invitation given to inter-services intelligence (ISI) to participate in the recent talks in Teheran between Iran Pakistan and Afghan resistance groups {0 resolve the Afghan issue.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 6, 1991
