Sharif Claims Pakistan 'Avenged' 1971 War

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has stated that Pakistan’s recent counter-attacks against India were retaliation for the 1971 war.

According to Geo TV, he made these remarks on Wednesday (May 14th) while visiting the Pasrur Cantonment in Sialkot to meet soldiers involved in Operation Bunyan-um-Marsus against India.   

Describing the operation as a historic moment for Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif said that Pakistani soldiers, by responding firmly and swiftly to Indian aggression, have avenged the 1971 war.   

Addressing the Pakistani soldiers, the Prime Minister said, "History will forever remember how, within a few hours, Pakistan's defenders thwarted India's unprovoked aggression."

Implicating Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Shehbaz Sharif said, "The world knows who trained the Mukti Bahini in 1971. 

Now, they are supporting the Balochistan Liberation Army and the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (anti-government group), which is coming from Modi."

Responding to India's threat to halt water flow to Pakistan, the Pakistani Prime Minister stated, "If India considers stopping water to Pakistan, then know this: water and blood cannot flow together. This is our red line, and there will be no compromise on it."

Addressing Modi directly, Shehbaz Sharif said, "Modi, if you show any aggression again, you will face consequences beyond your imagination. Modi, keep your inflammatory rhetoric to yourself. Pakistan wants peace in the region, but do not consider our desire for peace as weakness."

It is to be noted that in 1971, the common people of Bangladesh engaged in war against the Pakistani forces. The war began on March 26, 1971, and ended on December 16 with the independence of Bangladesh. 

While the Mukti Bahini's war against the Pakistani forces was ongoing, India formally declared war against Pakistan on December 3, 1971. 

Prior to this, the Pakistani forces launched attacks on eight Indian airbases under "Operation Chengiz Khan," after which they became directly involved in the war against Pakistan.