UAE's investment 'plan' in IIOJK 'Kashmir remains a disputed territory': FO

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office, on Thursday, termed the Indian claims of United Arab Emirates's (UAE's) investment plan in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) an attempt of New Delhi to portray a sense of fake normalcy and development in the occupied territory.

In his weekly media briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Asim Iftikhar Ahmad did mention that Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally-recognised territory and India's diversionary measures would not impact its disputed nature.

"Let me state that Jammu and Kashmir remains an internationally recognized disputed territory and no such ploys to mislead the international community would succeed," he added.

According to him, the planned investment in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) has different dimensions, especially in the case of flights between Srinagar and Sharjah, adding that these dimensions have technical aspects as well as international conventions on air navigation.

"I would like to say at this stage that the relevant authorities are seized of the matter," he said.

Dubai signs deal to build infrastructure in IIOJK: India

The main aspect of the investment, he added is that India is seeking to divert the attention from its oppression and human rights violations, adding that India continues to imply such diversionary measures to portray a sense of fake normalcy and development in the IIOJK.

He added that Pakistan remains deeply concerned at the deteriorating security and human rights situations in the IIOK. He said that India continues to expand its tool kit to oppress and harass the innocent Kashmiris, and India's minorities particularly, Muslims on baseless grounds.

"We saw that in the reprehensible attacks against Kashmiri students following Pakistan's win in the T-20 match against India. There are also disturbing reports about Kashmiri students and youth being charged under the draconian and arbitrary Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA)," he added.

When pressed again to clarify in clear terms as to whether Pakistan is okay with any investment by any country in the disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the spokesperson stated: "I have already responded [to] this [question]."

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the government in the occupied Jammu and Kashmir and the government of Dubai on October 18, 2021 to build infrastructure, real estate development, building industrial parks, IT towers, multipurpose towers, logistics, medical college, super speciality hospital, and more.

Responding to a question regarding test firing of nuclear capable intercontinental ballistic missile by India, he said that New Delhi's hostile posturing toward its neighbours further imperils peace and stability in South Asia.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021