SIALKOT, Pakistan: The Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Saturday said India was shelling the Sialkot border villages by violating the ceasefire agreement, adding Pakistan would give tit-for-tat response to India.
Talking to the media after enquiring about the health of injured at Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Sialkot and flanked by the Law Minister Zahid Hamid, Ahsan Iqbal strongly condemned the Indian shelling on Sialkot border villages in which several civilians were killed and some others injured.
The minister said India was resorting to unprovoked shelling just to divert world’s attention from the burning Kashmir Issue, as Pakistan had successfully highlighted the core issue at international fora.
The interior minister said Pakistan’s armed forces had the capability to defend every inch of the motherland; besides, giving answer to the enemy in a befitting manner.
Talking to the media, Zahid Hamid said the government had approved a multi-phased project of establishing special bunkers in Sialkot border villages which would enable the villagers to take shelter during Indian Border Security Force (BSF) shelling.
Zahid Hamid said the construction work on the project would soon be started in collaboration with the Pakistan army and the Punjab Rangers as well.
Earlier, local senior officials of the Punjab Rangers gave a comprehensive briefing on the operational, security and training aspects.
The federal ministers appreciated the high morale and state of preparedness of the valiant soldiers of Punjab Rangers, who are selflessly contributing towards safer and peaceful Pakistan.
Later, Ahsan Iqbal and Hamid visited the Indian BSF shelling-hit Sialkot border villages in Charwah, Sucheetgarh and Harpal Sectors.
Both the ministers met local people especially with the aggrieved families and expressed complete solidarity with them. They said the whole Pakistani nation was ready to even sacrifice their lives for defending every inch of the motherland.