Concerned by the mounting hostilities between India and Pakistan, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has expressed grave worries that, should lethal missile attacks cause the situation to spiral into a full-fledged confrontation.
“We are worried that the conflict between Pakistan and India might turn open,” President Erdogan said in a social media statement.
“I extend my sympathies to the brotherly people and government of Pakistan; I pray for Allah’s pity on our brothers who lost their life.”
Early Wednesday morning, India started strikes on Pakistan and AJK, an attack Islamabad termed a “blatant act of war”.
Islamabad claimed six targeted Pakistani sites ranging from hydroelectric dams to mosques. After India started an unprovoked and deliberate attack at six sites — Ahmedpur East, Muridke, Sialkot and Shakkargarh in Punjab and Muzaffarabad and Kotli in Azad Kashmir — at least 31 people, including children, were slain and 57 sustained injuries.
The Pakistan armed forces fired down five Indian Air Force (IAF) jets, seven drones, wrecked a brigade headquarters and many checkposts along the Line of Control (LoC), in reprisal.
In his speech, Erdogan also expressed grief over the martyrdom of many Pakistanis brought on by recent Indian strikes.
The Turkish president further mentioned that he had spoken with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif a day earlier over the matter on a phone call.
Describing Islamabad’s suggestion for an impartial international inquiry into the latest terrorist assault in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) as a “valuable” action, he gave compliments on it.
“Despite those who pour fuel on the fire,” Erdogan said, “Türkiye is doing everything it can to lower tensions and open channels for communication before the situation reaches a point of no return.”
Erdogan’s comment came hours after Pakistan’s military and civil leadership warned that any Indian misadventure would be so forceful and loud that the entire globe would hear its echo and no announcements would be required.
“Pakistan’s strike will be very seen and indisputable. Director General Inter-services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said during a joint news conference with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, “you won’t need the media to explain — the impact will speak for itself.”
Declaring the assertions to be “utterly false,” the DG ISPR unequivocally rejected India’s accusations that Pakistan attacked 15 sites throughout Indian territory.
According to him, India is seeking to support its recent military operations against Pakistan using falsified data.
The assertions made by India are unfounded. Their pictures of supposedly Pakistani missiles are ridiculous. At least a projectile of that kind would set dry grass on fire, but their so-called proof indicates no such damage, the DG ISPR said.
