Imran Khan Pitches For 'Peace Talks' as India-Pakistan Tension Escalates, Says 'Wars Have Always Been Miscalculated'
'We understand the grief that you have suffered in Pulwama and are ready for a probe and dialogue. Let's sit together and settle this with talks,' Khan said in a message to the Indian government.
Islamabad, February 27: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday pitched for talks with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, as tensions have escalated between two subcontinental nations, following the back-to-back air space violations on both sides. Khan said that a military confrontation would be detrimental to the interests of both the nations, adding that wars have always been "miscalculated".
Khan's comments came after an aerial engagement between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) in which New Delhi said it shot down a Pakistan fighter jet but lost one of its MiG-21s, with its pilot reportedly in Pakistani custody.
Khan, while addressing the nation, said, "I wanted to take you into confidence regarding the situation arising since yesterday. After the Pulwama incident, we offered India to cooperate in the probe. We know they suffered casualties."
"We offered India that we would investigate. We wanted to cooperate and were ready to do so. I feared that India would still take action and I had, therefore, warned India against aggression," the Pakistan PM added.
"When India stuck yesterday morning (on the JeM training camp at Balakot), we spoke to our Army command and waited to take action till we assessed the damage caused," he further said.
"Our action was only intended to convey that if you can come into our country, we can do the same. Two of their MiGs were shot down... From here, it is imperative that we use our heads and act with wisdom," Khan said.
"All wars are miscalculated, and no one knows where they lead to. World War I was supposed to end in weeks, it took six years. Similarly, the war on terrorism was not supposed to last 17 years."
"I ask India: With the weapons you have and the weapons we have, can we really afford a miscalculation? If this escalates, it will no longer be in my control or in (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi's," he added.
"We understand the grief that you have suffered in Pulwama and are ready for a probe and dialogue. Let's sit together and settle this with talks," Khan said in a message to the Indian government.
(With IANS inputs)
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(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 27, 2019 04:35 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).