Pakistan demands international probe into Uri attack

Sartaj Aziz, while issuing call for investigation, says it is not first time India has levelled baseless allegations against Pakistan.

Pakistan has demanded an international probe into Uri attack, alleging that India always starts accusing Pakistan immediately after any attack, without waiting for an investigation into the matter.

The call for an international investigation was issued by Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz in an interview with BBC Urdu.

“I think an independent international commission should be constituted to unearth the facts,” he said, adding “It is not the first time India has levelled baseless allegations against Pakistan.

Aziz said that any such attack neither benefited Pakistan nor Kashmir, adding that the attack diverted world community’s attention from human rights violations committed by Indian forces in India-held Kashmir (IHK). Tensions between Pakistan and India have been running high since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in July sparked anti-government protests in IHK, with over 100 people dead in clashes between protesters and Indian troops. Aziz’s remarks come as Pakistan and India face off at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) over the unrest in Kashmir. Earlier this month, 18 Indian soldiers were killed when heavilyarmed suspected militants attacked an Indian army base in Uri area of held Kashmir just days before Prime Minister Nawaz was set to address the UNGA. India accused Pakistan of involvement in the attack. In his UNGA speech, PM Sharif maintained that Pakistan wanted peace with India but it was “not possible without resolving the Kashmir issue”. He urged the UN to demilitarise Jammu and Kashmir and called for steps to implement UN Security Council resolutions on Kashmir. India, exercising its right of reply, termed Pakistan a ‘terrorist state’ in a stronglyworded rebuttal, accusing it of ‘sponsoring terrorism’.