- Maleeha Lodhi says UNSG’s letter is proof the govt’s efforts to highlight the Kashmir issue have been successful; Says India is not serious in resolving the Kashmir issue
- SAPM Fatemi says Pakistan will provide evidence of India’s ‘state terrorism’ in Pakistan
Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to United Nations Dr Maleeha Lodhi on Friday said that the letter of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is an evidence of the success of the government’s efforts to highlight the Kashmir issue at the international level.
“The UNSG has offered to play a role if both countries agree. PM’s letter has been properly responded to and also circulated among the UNSC members as an official document,” Lodhi said.
She said the consent of the UN Human Rights Commission to send a fact finding mission to Indian occupied Kashmir will exert pressure on India. At a time when the attention of international community is towards a number of global issues, Pakistan is trying to divert this attention also towards the Kashmir issue, she said.
Lodhi, however, was circumspect about a change in dynamic as she said India is not serious in resolving the Kashmir issue. She said it is the obligation of the UN to persuade the Modi government to peacefully settle this long standing dispute.
She also said that Pakistan is writing to India in response to their letter to sit with Islamabad and find out a solution to the Kashmir dispute according to the UN resolutions and aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
PAKISTAN TO PROVIDE EVIDENCE OF INDIAN ‘STATE TERRORISM’ IN PAKISTAN:
Meanwhile, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Syed Tariq Fatemi said that Pakistan will provide evidence to India about its involvement in state terrorism in Pakistan.
He said that the capture of a serving Indian Navy officer working as an agent of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) is a big success and is proof of Indian involvement in sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan, especially in Balochistan and Karachi.
Talking to a private television channel, he said, Pakistan is ready for all kinds of talks with India and wants to resolve the issue of Jammu and Kashmir according to the UN resolutions.
“Pakistan is a responsible state and wants good relations with its neighbours but statements of the Indian leadership regarding Pakistan are irresponsible,” he said.
‘ARROGANT AND INSINCERE’:
Ambassador to UN Maleeha Lodhi said while talking to a private TV channel: “India is not serious in finding a solution to the Kashmir dispute. India’s arrogance is deteriorating the situation in the region which can be a threat to regional and international peace and security.”
Dr Maleeha said Pakistan is trying to bring the UN resolution in focus once again to get international diplomatic support for the Kashmir issue and its peaceful resolution for regional peace and security.
“But, with their refusal to discuss and resolve this issue according to the UN resolutions and Kashmiri peoples’ aspirations, I fear the situation will not return to normalcy,” she added.
She said concerted efforts are underway on bilateral and international levels as Pakistani envoys at capitals of various countries are trying to highlight Indian atrocities and miseries of the innocent Kashmiris.
Lodhi said that due to the government’s efforts at various forums and reporting by the international media, political parties, media as well as civil society within India has also started believing and saying that the movement of the Kashmiri people is indigenous and not sponsored from abroad. They are also pressuring the Modi government to seriously think about resolving this issue.
‘KASHMIRIS WON’T BE TAMED’:
Special Assistant to PM Tariq Fatemi said on Friday that the inhumane and oppressive measures of the Indian government cannot stop the valiant people of Jammu and Kashmir from demanding their right to self-determination in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions.
He said Pakistan will raise the issue of grave human rights violations in the Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir at all the international forums and sensitise the world about these violations.
He said Pakistan will continue its political, moral and diplomatic support to the people of the Indian Occupied Kashmir.
To a question about the possibility of war between the two arch rivals, he said, “I don’t think that any leader will be so irresponsible as to go to war”, but added, “Pakistan knows how to defend itself.”
He said, “Pakistan will never initiate attack against any country but if India wants to do so then our armed forces have the capacity to give a befitting response to any aggression.”
