Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Saturday said that Pakistan was still in a comatose state following the surgical strike by the Indian Army on terrorist launch pads across LOC and such missions could be launched again if the country’s security was challenged. In his first statement after special forces of the Indian Army crossed the Line of Control into Pakistan-administered Kashmir and demolished seven launch pads of terrorists, Parrikar said that ‘anyone who casts an evil eye on the country would not be spared’.

Addressing a function held to unveil the statue of local hero Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali, Parrikar said that Pakistan had been stunned into silence after the surgical strikes and was in a comatose state. Lashing out at the neighbouring country, Parrikar said, ‘Condition of Pakistan is like a patient who has been put on anaesthesia before operation. And even after operation it is unable to realise that surgery has been performed on it.’

‘Even after two days, Pakistan is yet to recover and realise what has happened to it,’ he said as people clapped in agreement. Comparing the Indian army with Lord Hanuman of Ramayana, Parrikar said as the deity was reminded of his strength before going to Lanka, ‘I reminded our army of their powers and they did the job brilliantly. I congratulate the soldiers of special forces on behalf of the entire country’.  Stressing that India is a peace-loving nation, he said: ‘We don’t want to capture any country or land.’