India will have to pay 'unbearable cost' in case of war: Pakistan

Pakistan army chief was responding to General Dalbir Singh Suhag's statement last week that Indian army was prepared for 'swift, short nature of future wars'

Warning India of "unbearable damage" in case of a war, Pakistan's army chief General Raheel Sharif has said his troops are ready to tackle any long or short misadventure by the "enemy".

"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 yesterday to mark the 50th 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.

The remarks come against the backdrop of heightened tensions and cross-border firing between Indian and Pakistani troops along the LoC recently.

Raheel also 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.