Islamabad:
Pakistan Army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has claimed that his force cannot be caught unawares and is capable of responding to the challenge of India's cold start doctrine.
He said his force is fully prepared to give a "befitting response" to any "misadventure" from the eastern border, in an obvious reference to India.
Kayani made the remarks while responding to questions by members of the standing committee on defence of the Senate or upper house of parliament during a briefing at the army's General Headquarters, the Dawn newspaper reported.
The army chief reportedly said that India's cold start doctrine, "based on hegemonic designs", had not been taken "lightly" and Pakistan's armed forces are capable of responding to the challenge and safeguarding the country's geographical frontiers.
An unnamed participant in the briefing quoted Kayani as saying that Pakistan had "played an important role in the global war on terror and remained committed to combating the menace".
Kayani added that "long-term national interests would never be sacrificed on someone else's short-term interests".
The Senate committee recently received briefings at the naval and air headquarters but this was possibly its first meeting at the General Headquarters.
The report did not say when the briefing was held.