Pakistan is unified in its fight against terrorism including against the Indian state sponsored terrorism and terror financing on Pakistani soil

The Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Mr. Sartaj Aziz, has reacted strongly to Prime Minister Modi’s statement that Pakistan is the ‘mothership of terrorism’ and said that:

“Mr Modi is misleading his BRICS and BIMSTEC colleagues. The Indian leadership is desperately trying to hide its brutalities in the Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir, an internationally recognized dispute on the UNSC agenda, where innocent people are being killed and injured by the occupation forces daily with impunity.

The people of Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) are being subjected to genocide by India for demanding their fundamental right to self determination, as promised to the Kashmiris in the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

The ongoing Indian atrocities for 100 days has taken a toll on the lives of over 150 innocent and defencelessKashmiris, including children and women, and inflicted injuries on around 15,000, including the victims of pellet guns that blinded many hundreds, which has attracted international focus on the bloodshed in IOK. The UN Human Rights High Commissioner in Geneva and OIC SG, OIC Contact Group on Kashmir and OIC Independent Human Rights Commission have called for sending a fact finding mission to IOK.

The UN and OIC have rejected Indian attempts to equate Kashmiris’ movement for self-determination with terrorism. The UN has repeatedly emphasised that people fighting for their self-determination cannot be categorised as terrorists by the occupying state.

Pakistan joins all the members of BRICS and BIMSTEC in condemning terrorism and reaffirms its full commitment to fight the menace of terrorism without discrimination, including against the Indian state-sponsored terrorism on Pakistani soil.

Pakistan’s sacrifices in the war against terrorism are well acknowledged and repeatedly appreciated by the leadership of most countries in the world.

The Armed Forces of Pakistan and other law enforcement agencies have rendered ultimate sacrifices. Pakistan has also suffered hugely in terms of economic losses in the fight against terrorism.

With Indian state sponsored terrorism and terror financing on Pakistani soil proven irrefutably, India has no moral ground to even talk about counter-terrorism efforts let alone do the finger pointing. Pakistan is a victim of Indian interference and subversive activities,which are aimed at destabilising Pakistan.

Unfortunately, in complete disrespect of international law and the UN Charter, the Indian government is pursuing its hegemonic designs. These designs are a threat to international peace and security and may lead to a strategic miscalculation. The international community has witnessed the provocative statements from the Indian side, including ceasefire violations on the LoC.

Pakistan calls upon the international community and especially the BRICS Leaders to ask India to stop bloodshed of Kashmiris immediately, release Kashmiri Leaders and thousands of Kashmiris taken away forcibly with their fate unknown and address the humanitarian crisis, caused by India through creation of shortage of basic amenities.

Pakistan further stresses that the perpetrators of crimes against humanity in IOK should be held accountable and UNSC Resolutions on Kashmir be implemented sooner than later.

Islamabad
16 October 2016

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