Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Tuesday said that his troops are prepared to “go to any extent” to help Kashmiris, a day after the Indian government revoked Article 370 which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
The decision to take away Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and treat it like any other State in India is aimed at ending the decades-old separatist movement in the Valley.
Gen Bajwa was presiding over the Corps Commanders Conference, which is the highest decision-making forum of the army, held at General Headquarters, on a single-point agenda for Kashmir.
“Pakistan Army firmly stands by the Kashmiris in their just struggle to the very end. We are prepared, and shall go to any extent to fulfil our obligations...,” Gen Bajwa told the army commanders.
In a statement, the Pakistan Army said that the forum fully supported the Pakistan government’s “rejection of Indian actions” regarding Kashmir.
Pakistan never recognised Article 370 and or 35-A of the Indian Constitution which have now been revoked by New Delhi, it said.
On Monday, Pakistan had condemned and rejected the Indian government’s revoking of Article 370 and vowed to exercise “all possible options” to counter India’s “illegal” and “unilateral” step.
Reacting sharply to the Indian government’s announcement, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan termed the move as “illegal”, and said it would “further deteriorate” the relations between the nuclear-armed neighbours.