Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa holds praised the ‘Befitting Reply’ Pakistan’s military gave during the February standoff with India and said that the Pakistan Army remains fully competent and equipped to respond to any threat for the defence of the motherland.

Bajwa said this while presiding over the two-day-long Annual Formation Commanders’ Conference held at the GHQ in Rawalpindi, according to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Wednesday. “All general officers of Pakistan Army attended,” it added.

The Pakistan army chief also appreciated the accomplishments being achieved in ongoing operation Raddul Fasaad to carry forward the gains made thus far towards enduring peace and stability in the country. The forum pledged to continue all its efforts to serve the country.

Tensions escalated dramatically between Pakistan and India on February 14 when a young man – a native of the Kashmir Valley crashed an explosives-laden car into an Indian CRPF convoy, killing over 40 soldiers. India was quick to blame the state of Pakistan for the suicide bombing. PM Imran Khan offered every possible help in the investigation, but India turned down the offer and vowed to avenge terror attacks in Kashmir.

On February 26, the Indian Air Force (IAF) violated Pakistani airspace and attacked terror hideouts in the country according to New Delhi. Pakistan’s top civil and military leadership declared the violation of airspace by Indian fighter jets “uncalled aggression” and decided that the country would respond at a “time and place of its choosing”.

A day later, Pakistan retaliated with similar air strikes that led to dogfight, leaving one Indian MiG-21 Bison down and one Indian pilot captured and released within 72 hours due to severe pressure from the Indian government. India also claimed it shot down a Pakistani F-16, which Islamabad denied.