Pak warns of '10 surgical strikes' against India
Islamabad, Oct 13: Pakistan on Saturday warned of "10 surgical strikes" against India in response to a single such attack, in the latest war of words between the two estranged nuclear-armed neighbours.
Major General Asif Ghafoor, spokesperson of the military's Inter Services Public Relations, stated this while talking to the media in London, where he is accompanying Pakistan Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa on a visit.
"If India dares to launch a surgical strike inside Pakistan, it will face 10 surgical strikes in response," Ghafoor was quoted as saying by Radio Pakistan.
He also said "those who think of any misadventure against us should have no doubt in their minds on Pakistan's capabilities".
The military spokesman said the Pakistan Army was the custodian of the USD 50 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and that the mega project will strengthen the economy of the country.
Ghafoor said the army wanted strengthening of democracy in Pakistan, and claimed that the general election in July was the most transparent in the history of the country.
"If anyone has evidence of rigging then it should be brought forward," he remarked.
He also rejected reports of restriction on the media and said there was "complete freedom of expression" in the country.
He said there were more good developments in Pakistan than bad and that the international media should also highlight the good things.
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Mangaluru mob lynching sparks outrage over Cong ministers’ remarks, government's handling
Mangaluru: The recent mob lynching incident on the outskirts of Mangaluru, in which a man was allegedly beaten to death by a group of individuals, has triggered widespread anger across the state. Social media has erupted with criticism over the remarks made by senior state ministers and the alleged inaction of the Congress-led state government. Questions are being raised about the role of a senior BJP leader in the case, and allegations have surfaced that the police are shielding him instead of ensuring justice.
The controversy intensified after State Home Minister G Parameshwar commented that the mob attacked the victim because he allegedly shouted “Pakistan Zindabad”. His statement sparked outrage, with citizens and activists questioning the source of his information. “Who informed the Home Minister that the deceased shouted pro-Pakistan slogans? If it was confirmed only two days later that it was a murder, how was this detail known in advance?” many questioned online and offline.
Critics argue that this kind of rhetoric is part of a growing pattern of mob lynchings targeting Muslims across the country. The Home Minister has been accused of minimising the gravity of the crime and adopting the narrative of the accused even before the investigation is complete.
ALSO READ: Mangaluru: Mob lynching victim had mental health problems, says younger brother
Amid the backlash, Parameshwar clarified that he was only citing what the accused had claimed and that he never personally stated the deceased shouted the slogan. He assured that a detailed investigation is ongoing and added that action will be taken against any police official found guilty of negligence in the matter.
Further anger was fuelled by a statement from District In-charge Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, who referred to the deceased as a person from ‘other community’ and described the attackers as ‘cricketers’. These remarks drew strong reactions from various quarters, with many questioning how an elected representative could refer to a citizen as ‘other’ simply because he hailed from a different region. “Are the voters who brought him to power also others?” some asked on social media.
The deceased was reportedly a resident of Wayanad, the constituency of Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi, whose silence on the incident has also drawn public disappointment and criticism.
CPM Dakshina Kannada District Committee Secretary Munir Katipalla was among the first to condemn the ministers' comments. He questioned how a migrant worker, brutally murdered in a mob attack, could be labelled a foreigner while the attackers were glorified. He also alleged that the situation in Mangaluru had worsened under Minister Gundu Rao’s watch, as the police commissioner, accused of being close to businessmen and communal elements, was allowed to continue in office despite concerns.
Journalist and author Naveen Surinje also criticised the government. Citing the FIR, which stated that the deceased approached a group of 30-40 people shouting "Pakistan, Pakistan", Surinje questioned the logic and credibility behind such a narrative. “If the government believes such a statement — from someone who is themselves an accused in the murder — then we must question the government’s intention. The victim is no longer alive to deny these claims, and the so-called witnesses are all accused,” he said. He urged the government to speak in the voice of the law, not in the voice of the accused.
The incident and the state government’s response have sparked not just public outrage but growing dissatisfaction among Congress voters, with many feeling let down by the leadership and the law enforcement's conduct in such a sensitive case.
