India’s fictitious narrative of victimhood could not hide its involvement in fomenting terrorism on Pakistan’s soil: FO Spokesperson

ISLAMABAD, March 20 (SABAH): Pakistan says India’s fictitious narrative of victimhood could not hide its involvement in fomenting terrorism on Pakistan’s soil and the state-sanctioned oppression in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

At his weekly media briefing in Islamabad on Thursday, Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said Pakistan is alarmed over the increased frequency of Indian leadership’s unwarranted assertions about Jammu and Kashmir.

Shafqat Ali Khan said that we are alarmed that the frequency of Indian leadership’s unwarranted assertions about Jammu and Kashmir has increased. In this context, we wish to make a few things clear, especially with regard to the remarks made by the Indian External Affairs Minister at the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi.
He said that it was India that took Jammu and Kashmir issue to the United Nations in 1948. Today, it has no right to blame the Security Council and its erstwhile members for the resolutions that were subsequently adopted.

Shafqat Ali Khan said that repetition of baseless claims cannot deny the fact that Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally recognized disputed territory whose final status is to be determined by its people through a UN-supervised plebiscite, as stipulated in the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
He said that Pakistan believes in peaceful co-existence. However, a peaceful settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions and aspirations of the Kashmiri people, is essential for a lasting peace in South Asia.
Shafqat Ali Khan said that the remarks made by the Indian Prime Minister during a podcast, are misleading and one-sided. They conveniently omit the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, which remains unresolved for last seven decades despite India’s solemn assurances to the United Nations, Pakistan and the Kashmiri people.
Shafqat Ali Khan said that India’s fictitious narrative of victimhood cannot hide its involvement in fomenting terrorism on Pakistan’s soil and the state-sanctioned oppression in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK). Instead of blaming others, India should reflect on its own record of orchestrating targeted assassinations, subversion and terrorism in foreign territories.
He said that Pakistan has always advocated constructive engagement and result-oriented dialogue to resolve all outstanding issues, including the core dispute of Jammu and Kashmir. However, peace and stability in South Asia has remained hostage to India’s rigid approach and hegemonic ambitions.
Shafqat Ali Khan said that the anti-Pakistan narrative, emanating from India, vitiates the bilateral environment and impedes the prospects for peace and cooperation. It must stop.

Replying to a question, Shafqat Ali Khan said Indian involvement in fanning terrorism in Pakistan and destabilizing Balochistan is also clear. He pointed out that India has not condemned the recent attack on Jaffar Express in Balochistan.

The FO Spokesperson said not only in Pakistan, India has been sponsoring such unlawful activities in the entire region. He said instead of blaming others, India should reflect on its own record of orchestrating targeted assassinations, subversion and terrorism in foreign territories.

Shafqat Ali Khan added that anti-Pakistan narrative, emanating from India, vitiates the bilateral environment and impedes the prospects for peace and cooperation and it must stop.

Replying to another question, Shafqat Ali Khan said Torkham border between Pakistan and Afghanistan has been reopened, which is a positive development.

Shafqat Ali Khan said that Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif is currently on an official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that is from 19- 22 March 2025. The delegation includes Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, along with key Federal Ministers and senior officials. The visit aims to strengthen bilateral ties, enhance economic cooperation, and promote investment between the two countries.
He said that the Prime Minister met Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman today. Both leaders had productive discussion on ways to further strengthen Pakistan-Saudi Arabia ties in trade, investment, energy & security. Prime Minister thanked His Royal Highness for the Kingdom’s consistent support to Pakistan.
Shafqat Ali Khan said that the Prime Minister’s visit underscores the deep-rooted historical relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and will pave the way for increased mutual understanding, enhanced cooperation in trade, investment and greater diplomatic coordination on bilateral, regional and global matters.
Shafqat Ali Khan said that Pakistan welcomes the signing of treaty on delimitation and demarcation of the Kyrgyz Tajik border. We congratulate the leadership and the brotherly peoples of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan on this landmark achievement, marking the end of a protracted border dispute. We firmly believe that this significant turn of events will open up new possibilities of cooperation and advancement in the region.
He said that Pakistan unequivocally condemns Israel’s vicious attacks against the people of West Bank and Gaza, the blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement, killing innocent civilians, including elderly, women and children.

He said that Israel’s air strikes and raids are a flagrant violation of the ceasefire agreement; international humanitarian law; the UN Charter; and hampers the confidence and faith in the global community and international law.

He said that Pakistan strongly calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities in West Bank, and Gaza; protection of civilians; and unrestricted access to humanitarian aid and assistance.

Shafqat Ali Khan said that we also call on the international community to increase its efforts to end Israel’s genocidal campaign against the innocent people of Palestine. We call for accountability of Israeli crimes committed in this brutal war, as a crucial step towards restoring international legitimacy.

Shafqat Ali Khan said that Pakistan continues to support the two-state solution which is based on fundamental principles of the UN Charter, resolutions of the UN Security Council and decisions of the International Court of Justice.

Shafqat Ali Khan said that we also reaffirm our unconditional support for the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people and for the establishment of a viable, contiguous, and sovereign Palestinian state based on the pre-June 1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
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