Pakistan army chief Raheel Sharif warns India of 'unbearable cost' in case of war

Islamabad: Pakistan's powerful army chief General Raheel Sharif has warned India of "unbearable damage" if it tried to impose a short or long war on his country.

"Let me reiterate that our armed forces stand fully capable to defeat all sorts of external aggression."

"If the enemy ever resorts to any misadventure, regardless of its size and scale — short or long — it will have to pay an unbearable cost," he said in his address at a special event organised by army at its headquarters in Rawalpindi on Sunday to mark the 50 anniversary of the 1965 war with India.

The remarks were a pointed response to a statement by Indian army chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag who said last week that Indian Army was prepared for "swift, short nature of future wars".

"Armed forces of Pakistan are fully capable of dealing with all types of internal and external threats, may it be conventional or sub-conventional; whether it is cold start or hot start. We are ready," said General Raheel.

This time the reference was towards India's cold start doctrine of war.

Terming Kashmir as "unfinished agenda of partition", he said that it should be resolved according to UN resolution which calls for plebiscite to decide its future.

He also warned that Kashmir cannot be out in the back-burner. He promised to dismantle the entire networks of militants in the country.

"I reiterate the resolve that we shall not relent until all terrorists, their financiers, abettors, facilitators and sympathisers are brought to justice," he said.

He also assured Afghanistan of support in creating peace and said that Pakistan made "concerted and sincere efforts for bringing peace in Afghanistan but certain inimical forces are bent upon undermining our efforts."