Less than every week after changing into Pakistan’s new army chief, General Syed Asim Munir visited the Rakhchikri Sector in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on Saturday and mentioned the navy was able to defend “every inch of our motherland” if attacked, in a direct warning to India.

“We have noticed highly irresponsible statements from Indian leadership on G-B & AJK recently. Let me make it categorically clear, Pakistan’s armed forces are ever ready, not only to defend every inch of our motherland, but to take the fight back to the enemy, if ever, war is imposed on us,” The Express Tribune quoted Munir as saying.

India’s overseas ministry didn’t instantly reply to information company Reuters’s request for remark.

According to the navy’s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military chief interacted with officers and troopers and appreciated their excessive morale, skilled competence and fight readiness whereas performing their duties in difficult situations, the Pakistan media reported.

Munir was apparently referring to Northern Army Commander Lt General Upendra Dwivedi‘s current assertion by which he had reportedly mentioned, “As far as the Indian Army is concerned, it will carry out any order given by the government of India. Whenever such orders are given, we will always be ready for it. The military is always ready to make sure that ceasefire understanding is never broken as it is in the interest of both nations, but if broken at any time, we will give them a befitting reply.”

Dwivedi made his assertion whereas reacting to defence minister Rajnath Singh‘s remarks stressing the federal government’s resolve to take again Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

On November 24, President Arif Alvi promoted Munir to the rank of General with fast impact and appointed him as Chief of Army Staff (COAS), ending intense hypothesis over probably the most highly effective place within the coup-prone nation, the place the navy wields appreciable energy in issues of safety and overseas coverage.

On Tuesday, Munir changed General Qamar Javed Bajwa, who retired after serving two consecutive three-year phrases as the military chief.

(With inputs from Reuters, ANI, PTI)