And the escalating tensions are all India’s fault, of course. “Pakistani army warns India of response,” from The Australian, December 24 (thanks to JE):
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s military would retaliate within minutes if India carried out a surgical strike within Pakistan, the country’s army chief said yesterday.
The warning from Pakistani Chief of Army Staff Ashfaq Parvez Kayani came as India chided the US and Britain for failing to punish Islamabad for last month’s attacks in Mumbai and said the lack of action would force New Delhi to “deal with this problem”.
While renewing the call for Pakistan to crack down on Islamic militants, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last night sought to lower tensions, saying “nobody wants war”.
“The issue is not war. The issue is terror and territory in Pakistan being used to promote and abet terrorism,” Dr Singh said.
Yes.
General Kayani earlier apprised President Asif Ali Zardari of the operational preparedness of Pakistan’s military.
“The armed forces are fully prepared to meet any eventuality,as his men are ready to sacrifice for their country,” General Kayani told Mr Zardari.
Reports said Mr Zardari believed India’s threatening statements were creating an atmosphere of aggression and harming the regional environment.
“We are keeping a close watch on all the latest developments and threatening tones of Indian leadership,” he said….
But the Pakistani connections to the Mumbai attacks, they didn’t create an “atmosphere of aggression” or harm “the regional environment.” Oh no. Only India can do that.