Pakistan asks India to realize ground situation in Kashmir
"There were UN resolutions on the Jammu and Kashmir issue and India itself committed to hold plebiscite there." File Photo
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said on Thursday that it was time for India to realize that it could not continue suppressing the will of people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Foreign Office Spokesman Abdul Basit told a weekly briefing that whatsoever powerful India might be but that did not give it right to suppress the legitimate and peaceful struggle for right of self-determination.
The spokesman said that there were UN resolutions on the Jammu and Kashmir issue and India itself committed to hold plebiscite there.
Replying to a question, the spokesman reiterated Pakistans stand that all issues between the two countries, including Jammu and Kashmir, should be resolved through dialogue.
He said, India knows well that without resolving the Kashmir dispute there can neither be mutual trust between the two countries nor can there be viable peace in the region.
The spokesman strongly condemned rowdyism against Hurriyat leadership that only portrays Indias nervousness at the on-going demonstrations and strikes in the occupied Kashmir.
He also rejected the Indian Foreign Secretarys remarks that Pakistan has no right to give sermons on morality to India vis-a-vis New Delhis desire to seek permanent seat at the UN Security Council.
The spokesman said that a foreign policy that is devoid of moral and legal norms and driven solely by real-politik was a recipe for promoting anarchical tendencies in international relations.
He said in the pursuit of its foreign policy, Pakistan had always upheld the principles of international law.
Abdul Basit said, Indias aversion to moral and legal norms is understandable given the fact that it continues to violate the principles as enshrined in the UN charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as well as several UN resolutions.
While commenting on a media report that a United States (US) court has summoned Pakistani intelligence officials in connection with a case pertaining to Mumbai attacks, the spokesman said he had no exact or full details about it.
However, he pointed out that trial against seven accused in the Mumbai attack was underway in Pakistan.
Pakistan is committed to bring the perpetrators of Mumbai terror attacks to justice, so dragging intelligence agencies into this in any manner is preposterous, he added.
The spokesman once against said that Pakistan was against drone attacks and had been impressing upon Obama administration to revisit the policy as it was not helping counter-terrorism efforts.
He said there was no question that Pakistan would allow drone attacks in Balochistan or any other part of the country.
He told a questioner that Pakistan had always challenged the ****** terminology so it was not necessary for it to be present at forums like NATO summit in Lisbon.
The international community recognizes importance of Pakistan and the key role it is playing against terrorism and militancy, he added.
Replying to another question he said Pakistan had always sincerely tried to help the process of bringing about peace and stability in Afghanistan. It would, therefore, welcome the withdrawal of coalition from Afghanistan as and when it happens, he said.
The spokesman hoped that the coalition forces would be able to have developed Afghan National Army and other security forces in Afghanistan by 2014 enabling them to take full charge to prevent anarchy.
He said, Pakistan doesnt expect the coalition forces to stay in Afghanistan forever.
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