India-US allegations on Pakistan ‘baseless’
Taking strong exception to the unwarranted references against “a third country” in the recently issued Indo-US Joint Statement of September 6, 2018, Pakistan yesterday rejected the allegations as “baseless”, calling it “inconsistent with established diplomatic norms”.
“Accordingly, we conveyed our position to the US side. The ministry is of the view that mentioning of a third country with unsubstantiated accusations in a formal outcome document is inconsistent with the established diplomatic norms,” said Foreign Office Spokesman Dr. Mohammad Faisal in a media briefing, referring to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s recent visit to India.
“What is more ironic is that many other thorny issues involving the third countries were avoided in the Joint Statement by the Indian side on the pretext of the same diplomatic practice. As you are aware, the Mumbai trial is ongoing in the Anti-Terrorism Court in Pakistan. The judicial process shall take its course,” he added.
The Foreign Office spokesman said Pakistan expected the US to focus similarly, if not more, on Indian state terrorism and the resulting humanitarian emergency in Indian Occupied Kashmir, where atrocities have intensified.
“Indian occupation forces continue to kill innocent Kashmiris with impunity. Last month alone, more than 30 innocent Kashmiris were slaughtered in cold blood.
“Hurriyat leaders continue to be incarcerated on trumped up charges. Foreign journalists are prevented from reporting on the situation in IoK. The recent suspension of Al Jazeera is just a case in point,” he maintained.
After the brutal murder of Shujaat Bokhari, Indian forces have arrested the Kashmiri journalist Atif Aasif Sultan on trumped up charges, exposing the truth behind India’s claim of being the biggest democracy and its commitment to freedom of expression.
“It is also unsurprising to see zero mention of the continued ceasefire violations by India across the LoC/WB which posed a serious threat to peace and stability in the region,” he added.