No evidence of terrorist camps in AJK, say foreign diplomats

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–Military spokesperson says Indian diplomats didn’t have moral courage to undertake the visit

ISLAMABAD: Foreign diplomats on Tuesday debunked Indian army chief’s claim of destroying so-called launch pads of terrorists along the Line of Control (LoC) in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) after they were taken on a tour of the areas shelled by Indian forces over the weekend.

Speaking to the media after the visit, Malaysia Deputy High Commissioner Deddy Feisal said, “There is no evidence of any terrorist camp in this area. They are all ordinary people and ordinary civilians trying to make their living.”

Bosnia’s Ambassador Sakib Foric said, “I have a special feeling when I see that civilians were targeted here and unfortunately with some casualties, and I could see that the people are patriots and have special feelings and they have hosted us and are open to tell what has happened really.”

The foreign diplomats were shown the damages done to villages along the LoC by Indian shelling.

South Africa’s Acting High Commissioner Chirsto Janse Van said, “Indian forces are openly against all principles of civility and humanity.”

Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing also spoke about the sufferings of the Kashmiri people, which, he said, makes it all the more important for the international community to help resolve this festering dispute.

“Along with my colleagues I saw the damages, sufferings, injuries by local people here. These people are suffering and that is why I think Kashmir dispute is more and more important for the international community to pay attention to, and also for India and Pakistan to find a peaceful solution according to UN resolutions,” said the Chinese envoy said.

India’s deputy high commissioner was also given an unprecedented invitation to join the foreign diplomats on the LoC visit, which he declined. “The Indian embassy has yet not responded to offer made by DG ISPR. It indicates that they have no grounds to support false claim by their COAS,” Foreign Office (FO) Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal had said in a Twitter post.

Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Major General Asif Ghafoor said that the entire Indian narrative did not have the legs to stand on. “The Indian High Commission staff did not have the moral courage to accompany fellow diplomats in Pakistan to LoC,” said the Pakistan military’s spokesperson.

On October 20, three civilians and one soldier were martyred, while two soldiers and five civilians were injured when Indian forces violated the ceasefire and deliberately targeted civilian population in Jura, Shahkot, Nousehri sectors of the LoC.

Pakistani troops effectively and precisely targeted Indian military positions, killing nine Indian soldiers and decimating two of their bunkers.