Pakistan will continue to support the Kashmiri people in their just struggle against Indian occupation: FO Spokesperson
ISLAMABAD, July 07 (SABAH): Foreign Office Spokesperson Asim Iftikhar Ahmad has said that India must realize that despite applying all tools of oppression and using state terrorism as a policy, it has failed to subjugate the will of the Kashmiri people.
This was stated by FO Spokesperson Asim Iftikhar Ahmad in a weekly press briefing on Thursday. While talking about the situation in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), FO Spokesperson said that it is no surprise that during the week a dozen Kashmiri youth were arrested in continuing cordon and search operations. India must realize that despite applying all tools of oppression and using state terrorism as a policy, it has failed to subjugate the will of the Kashmiri people.
“We once again call upon the international community, particularly the United Nations and human rights organizations, to investigate the persistent extra-judicial killings of Kashmiris by Indian Occupation Forces and bring the perpetrators of these heinous crimes to justice” he said.
Asim Iftikahr Ahmad said that Pakistan will continue to support the Kashmiri people in their just struggle against Indian occupation till the realization of their inalienable right to self-determination as promised to them by the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions.
Replying a question, FO spokesperson said that the investigations into the Karachi terrorist incident have been ongoing. There is complete political consensus and full backing of the government into this investigation, which is being carried out as a top priority, and which is being expedited according to the norms, standards and relevant laws of the Government of Pakistan. So this is an ongoing process, and there are continuing discussions with the Chinese side on the safety and security of Chinese nationals to which the government is fully committed. “We are yet to see anything communicated officially from the CTD and so when that is done, we would be in a position to comment” he said.
Replying a question Asim Iftikhar said that “As I said, in recent days you would have witnessed intense diplomatic activity – there was this high level visit from China and these engagements with the US. They indicate the desire on part of Pakistan to promote and strengthen our relationships with both of these countries, which are our long-standing partners. We look forward to broaden this relationship, to take it forward in a balanced, objective and mutually beneficial manner.
So it was in this context that the contacts have been made with the U.S., as you would have also noticed from the press release, and from the outcomes of the earlier interactions that have taken place in recent weeks with the US side, I think the objective is to work for a partnership which is broad based and is comprehensive – which is focused on economic and political relations, trade and investment, and many other areas like climate change, energy, health and obviously there is this security and defence aspect, which is part of this collaboration”.
He said that Pakistan and U.S. have been collaborating over the years in the field of security and defence. We have had long-standing cooperation in the context of counter-terrorism and I think it is in the interest of our two countries that we continue to take this relationship, this partnership in the security and defence side forward in the context of our overall expansion and promotion of relations with the U.S, he said.
Meanwhile in response to media queries regarding the reported release of a so-called dossier by the Indian Army making baseless allegations against Pakistan, the Spokesperson stated that we have seen reports appearing in a segment of Indian media regarding the release of a so- called dossier by the Indian Army that reportedly makes baseless allegations implicating Pakistan for India’s own terrorist activities in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). We out-rightly reject this false and fabricated ‘so-called’ dossier, the reported contents of which have been crafted using disinformation, fake assertions and insinuations that seek to divert the world’s attention from India’s own brazen and well-documented campaign of state- terrorism and widespread human rights violations in the IIOJK.
He said that the fact is that in the last few days, numerous instances have been reported where direct links between the BJP and perpetrators of violence in IIOJK, Udaipur and elsewhere have been unearthed.
FO spokesperson said that Pakistan has regularly shared with the world irrefutable evidence of Indian occupation forces’ gross and widespread violations of human rights abetted by draconian laws in the IIOJK through comprehensive, evidence-based dossiers. These compilations have extensively documented the truth behind India’s active planning, promoting, aiding, abetting, financing and execution of terrorist activities in Pakistan.
Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said that it is regrettable that India has chosen to present fictional accounts to divert attention from its own failures instead of fulfilling its obligations under international law and ensuring that the people of IIOJK are granted their inalienable right to self-determination in accordance with the relevant UNSC resolutions and as per their wishes.
He said that India would be well-advised to carry out introspection with a view to putting its own house in order. The mischievous Indian attempts at masquerading as a victim of terrorism and leveling baseless terrorism-related allegations against Pakistan stand fully exposed.