Tuesday 23rd December, 2008
Any limited military offensives against Pakistan will be considered war: PM

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said if war is thrust on Pakistan, reply will be given with full force adding any limited military offensive will be considered war against Pakistan.

“We don’t want confrontation with India we have full potential to give reply. All the steps are complete and armed forces are red alert in view of national security situation. Complete harmony prevails between government, nation and army. Those considering our desire for peace, as our weakness should know it well we are fully capable to give forceful reply. We are determined for the defence of our borders”, he said this while talking to journalists after addressing certificate award ceremony held here National Vocational and Technical Education Commission (NEW TECH) under prime minister skilled Pakistan program.

When asked by Online what would be government reaction on joint strategy of India and Israel with regard to limited offensives against Pakistan, he said, “We are alive to all sorts of strategies. We have reply to give to any adventurism and it will be given in proper manner. No one should remain under any delusion in this regard, he warned.

Confrontation was not in any one interest, he said. India had provided no evidence so far about Mumbai attacks. Provocative statements emanating from India despite this fact were regrettable, he added.

Earlier addressing the ceremony prime minister said the incumbent government was endeavoring to make 40 percent youths skilled besides providing them job opportunities. Youths are our force and we had started program for imparting technical education to them to make them skilled, he held.

The countries of which middle class was living better life, they tread on the path to progress and development, he remarked. Health program for women should also be initiated so that they could be integrated into primary health care program, he added.

Quake affected population from Kashmir, NWFP and FATA be made part of this development process to great extent, he stressed. Handicapped persons be also included in this program so that they could take part in the development of the country, he urged.

Our real issues are law and order situation and terrorism, he said adding poverty, hunger, unemployment and illiteracy are the root causes of these menaces. Skilled manpower was the need of hour

Chairman NEW TECH Adnan A Khawaja said NEW TECH had imparted training to 40000 youths during 8 months and this strength will go beyond 100000 during the current year.