ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office (FO) on Friday termed as “misleading and unnecessary” the joint statement issued by the US and India against Pakistan, a day before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met President Joe Biden. Hoy said that this reference is against diplomatic principles. Principles and its political implications.
To use the visit to push India’s agenda against Islamabad, a joint statement issued by the two heads of state late on Thursday called for a crackdown on extremists targeting New Delhi from Pakistan. It was demanded.
Responding to media queries on the statement on Friday, Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said: “We find the specific reference to Pakistan in the US-India joint statement issued on June 22, 2023 unnecessary.” Get it. Biased, and misleading.
“The reference is against diplomatic norms and has political implications. We are surprised that it has been included despite Pakistan’s close counter-terrorism cooperation with the US.
He recalled that Pakistan has made unprecedented sacrifices in the war against terrorism and by doing so the law enforcement agencies and armed forces have set an example. “The people of Pakistan are the real heroes in this war,” the Foreign Office spokesperson highlighted, adding that the international community has time and again recognized Pakistan’s efforts and sacrifices in the war against terrorism.
“It has long concluded that terrorism can be defeated through joint and cooperative measures. Today we fail to see that the claims made in the joint statement are within the scope of the fight against terrorism. How can international resolve be strengthened? The statement shows that the spirit of cooperation, which is so essential to defeat the menace of terrorism, has been sacrificed on the altar of geopolitical considerations. “
Zahra noted, “India, in addition to being a state sponsor of terrorism, seeks to divert attention from its brutal repression of Kashmiris in India’s illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, and its mistreatment of minorities.” Habitually uses the bogey of terrorism. Thus making any kind of accusations about Pakistan and its war on terror is absolutely wrong.
Ironically, the joint statement fails to address the key sources of tension and instability in the region and to take note of the dire human rights situation in India’s illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). This amounts to an abdication of international responsibility,” the spokesperson pointed out.
A Foreign Office spokesman added that Pakistan was deeply concerned about “the planned transfer of advanced military technologies to India”, saying such moves “are exacerbating military imbalances in the region and undermining strategic stability”. have been”.
Zahra said that they have not been instrumental in achieving the goal of sustainable peace in South Asia. “We urge our international partners to take a comprehensive and objective approach to peace and security issues in South Asia and refrain from endorsing unilateral positions,” he added.
Earlier, on the floor of the National Assembly, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari strongly objected to the mention of Pakistan in the joint statement issued after the meeting between US President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Slamming the US and India for issuing a joint statement calling on Pakistan to ensure that its territory is not used for extremist attacks, Asif pointed out that “the irony of the statement It came during the visit of the man who was banned from entering the US for overseeing the massacre of Muslims when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat.
Lamenting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s actions in a tweet, the minister said “he is leading another campaign of state-sponsored terror in Kashmir, routinely maiming the local population and Includes blinding.
“In the rest of the country, Modi’s cronies kill Muslims, Christians and other minorities with impunity,” he added.
The Defense Minister also emphasized that “Pakistan has lost countless lives due to the failed US interventions in the region, and has been fighting a continuous war against terrorism for decades.
“Perhaps President Biden should consider these facts the next time he welcomes the Butcher of Gujarat,” Asif said.
Khawaja Asif, while turning to relations with America, said that Pakistan is paying a heavy price today for serving as a frontline state in two Afghan wars. He said that terrorism entered Pakistan because it acted as an ally of the US in the war against terrorism. He expressed regret that Pakistan’s sacrifices and war against terrorism were not acknowledged after 9/11. The Defense Minister said that elections are about to be held in the country and whoever forms the next government should promote stable relations with the US and neighboring countries. He emphasized that Pakistan should take advantage of its geographical location.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, speaking in the National Assembly, urged the major powers not to make the war against terrorism controversial and a victim of their geopolitics.
Commenting on the joint statement issued after the meeting between US President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said that the international community should take this scourge seriously as it is only through collective efforts that this scourge can be eradicated.
He expressed regret that the world’s attention has shifted from terrorism to the conflict in Ukraine. “I don’t think there is any reason for Pakistan to be insecure about its relationship with the world or its bilateral partnership with the US as a result of the increasingly close cooperation between the US and India,” the foreign minister said. He further said that Pakistan was standing on its feet yesterday and is still standing today.
He further said that Pakistan will move forward on its own as per public aspirations, not because the US-India joint statement “mentioned terrorism and Pakistan will take action”. He also reminded the world that Pakistan is the country most affected by terrorism, even if the casualties of India, America, Iran and the rest of the world are counted.
“For the sake of our national security and the future of the people, we want to fight terrorism. We had earlier raised this issue on public mandate in 2008 and defeated them,” Bilawal said.
However, he added that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf government’s policies had “pushed Islamabad back”. “And again this issue is an issue for us and today it is our issue and God forbid it becomes another country’s issue. We want to fight [terrorism] for our own reasons and have peace in our country. want to establish,” he said.
The foreign minister said that Pakistan is the biggest victim of terrorism as it has suffered more casualties than any other country in the world. He said that the end of terrorism and extremism is in the interest of Pakistan for the peace, stability and prosperity of its people.
Regarding hearing the cases of civilians in military courts, the foreign minister said that those involved in the attack on military installations and martyrs’ memorials do not deserve any exemption. He said that there are provisions in the law that those involved in such heinous acts should be prosecuted in military courts. Establishing the writ of the state is the responsibility of the Parliament, the Government and the Judiciary.
“We have to come up with a road map for political and economic stability in the country that includes conciliatory members of the opposition and agree on a minimal agenda for the sake of the country.”
The country’s top diplomat told MPAs that he believes it is important for Pakistan to stay out of global politics and focus on itself. He further said that once political stability and economic issues are resolved, Pakistan can achieve its international goals in the world.
