ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Economic Affairs & Revenue Hammad Azhar said on Thursday that India is creating a climate of hostilities and trying to provoke war with Pakistan.
He said this during his keynote address at a one-day national conference titled, “Nuclearization of Indian Ocean: Implications for South Asian Strategic Stability and Environmental Safety” held here by the South Asian Strategic Stability Institute University (SASSIU).
The minister said that revocation of article 370 and 35A unveiled the ugly and brutal face of the Indian government. He said that the Kashmir issue is not a bilateral dispute, as stressed by India but an international issue.
He said that India’s massive acquisition of the conventional arms adoption of offensive doctrines, expansion of the strategic assets including nuclear submarines are all indicative of India’s resolve to engage in a long-term conflict with Pakistan.
“India’s first deterrence patrol of its nuclear submarine Arihant since November 2018 is, in fact, the first actual deployment of a ready to use nuclear warheads by India. The world should pay heed to this development,” he stressed.
Dr. Maria Sultan, Chairperson and Director General of SASSIU, said that today the South Asian regional stability is under tremendous threat due to belligerent policies pursued by India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
She stated that the repeal of Kashmir’s special autonomous status was a gross violation of United Nations Security Council Resolutions, Geneva Convention, and UN charters over the disputed region.
“In Indian Occupied Kashmir, nearly nine million Kashmiris are held hostage under the information blackout and military power,” she added.
Dr Maria termed the imprisonment of nine million Kashmiris as “buried alive” by India. Furthermore, she stated that any misadventure by the Indian army would be met with unflinching resolve.
“Pakistan is a responsible nuclear weapon state but that must not be taken as a gesture of weakness. Any potential false flag operation conducted by the Indian military will lead to the outbreak of large conventional war. Any act of aggression by India will be met with an equally effective response by Islamabad”.
She said that any war between the two neighbors had the risk of nuclearizing the Indian Ocean which is an integral part of international trade and oil routes.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Additional Secretary (Asia Pacific) Zahoor Ahmed pointed out that it was India and not Pakistan which started the nuclear arms race in the region in 1974. He added that even now Pakistan was acting as a responsible nuclear state while Indian PM Modi was rapidly nuclearizing the Indian Ocean by introducing nuclear-armed submarine.
Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan Mehdi Honordost said that global oil disruptions in a particular maritime domain such as the Indian Ocean would be devastating for world economy. He also called for the two countries to resolve their problems through dialogue.
