The Foreign Office on Thursday dismissed the impression that the recent steps including downgrading bilateral ties and trade relations with India will have any impact on Afghan transit trade and the Afghan peace process. "The Afghan peace process has no linkage with this issue [Kashmir]. We will continue our facilitative role in the [Afghan] peace process," Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal told his weekly media briefing.
In a separate question of Business Recorder, as to whether the latest steps taken by the government of Pakistan in light of the National Security Committee (NSC) decisions including suspending trade ties with India, will also have any impact on the Afghan transit trade, the spokesperson replied in the negative. Dr Faisal also out-rightly rejected the response of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs with regard to the steps taken by Pakistan and also dismissed its claim that revoking the special status of Kashmir is its 'internal matter.'
"Pakistan categorically rejects the Indian contention that Jammu and Kashmir is an internal matter of India. Jammu and Kashmir remains on the agenda of UNSC and is a disputed territory. Its final resolution has to be made under a UN administered free and fair plebiscite to ascertain the wishes of the Kashmiri people," he added.
About the Kartarpur Corridor, he said that Pakistan will continue to work on the project and latest steps taken in light of the NSC will not have an impact on this. "Notwithstanding the latest developments, Pakistan's Kartarpur initiative shall continue. Pakistan respects all religions and would continue the project," he added.
Asked about the possibility of a complete revocation of diplomatic relations with India in the future, he said, "Everything remains in the realm of possibility."
He said the Indian High Commissioner has been asked to leave in pursuant to the decision of the National Security Committee. Ajay Bisaria, the Indian High Commissioner, left for India on Thursday via Wagha Border.
The spokesperson also stated that Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood received the visiting US delegation on Wednesday which included Assistant Secretary of State Alice Wells and Treasury Department Deputy Assistant Secretary Scott Rembrandt.
He said the wide-ranging discussions focused on prevailing situation in IoK, Pakistan-US relationship, Afghan peace and reconciliation process, and implementation of National Action Plan and FATF action plan.
While drawing attention to the prevailing human rights and security situation in IoK, he said that the foreign secretary underlined the importance of preventing violations of UNSC resolutions by India, which pose a serious threat to peace and stability in South Asia.
"It was agreed to build on the positive momentum in bilateral ties keeping in view the shared vision of leadership of two countries," he added.
He further said that Foreign Minister Qureshi, in a telephone conversation at Wednesday night with US Senator Lindsey Graham, apprised him of the unilateral and illegal actions of the India with regard to internationally recognised disputed status of IoK.
He said that Qureshi said, among other things, these actions were flagrant violations of the UNSC resolutions. With reference to grave human rights situation in IoK, he said that the foreign minister also highlighted massive clampdown and the complete blockade of communications.
He said that Qureshi shared with him the implications of these illegal Indian actions, for peace and stability in South Asia and urged that the US, as an important member of the international community, to play its role to prevent violations of the UNSC resolutions and maintain peace and stability in the region.
About the issue of granting consular access to Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, he said that updates regarding Commander Jadhav will be shared in due course of time.
He said that Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed for utilising all options after revocation of Article 370 by India. He said that as part of outreach to world leaders on the recent developments in the IoK, he said that the Prime Minister spoke to Turkish the President, Malaysian Prime Minister, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Crown Prince of UAE and the Prime Minister of the UK.
He said that the Prime Minister highlighted India's illegal actions to modify the special status of the Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir which would have serious implications for the regional peace and security.
"He [PM] reiterated that Pakistan would continue its diplomatic, moral and political support to the legitimate Kashmiri struggle for the legitimate right to self-determination, as enshrined in the United Nations Security Council resolutions," he added.
He said that Pakistan strongly condemned and rejected the announcements made by the Indian government regarding the IoK which is an internationally recognised disputed territory.
"No unilateral step by the government of India can change this internationally accepted disputed status, as enshrined in the United Nations Security Council Resolutions. Nor will this ever be acceptable to the people of Jammu & Kashmir and Pakistan," he added.
Referring to the August 6 report of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), he said that ICJ stated the Indian government's revocation of the autonomy and special status of Jammu and Kashmir violates the rights of representation and participation guaranteed to the people of Jammu and Kashmir under the Indian Constitution and in international law and is a blow to the rule of law and human rights in the state and in India.
"The Indian government has pushed through these changes in contravention of domestic and international standards with respect to the rights of people in Jammu and Kashmir to participate and be adequately represented, accompanied by draconian new restrictions on freedoms of expression, assembly and travel, and with an influx of thousands of unaccountable security personnel," the spokesperson quoted Sam Zarifi, ICJ's Secretary General, as having said in the report.
He said that the ICJ also condemned the legislative steps taken with respect to Jammu and Kashmir, and called on the Indian government to implement in full the UN High Commissioner's recommendations, including respecting the right to self-determination of people of Jammu and Kashmir, and to respect, protect and fulfill their human rights.
To a question, he stated Pakistan is prepared for any misadventure by the Indians and a potent reply has been given by the NSC's meeting on Wednesday, along with the unanimous resolution by the Parliament and the forceful speech by the foreign minister.
"We are Muslims. The word "fear" does not exist in our dictionary. We do not fear anyone or anything except Allah. We should always remember what happened on the 27th of February 2019. We have a clear position that India should pay heed to the grievances of the Kashmiris and no unilateral and arbitrary decisions should be taken," he said.
He said that India has imposed a curfew across the IoK and they have turned this region into a jail and incarcerated over 14 million people. He said that two people have been mercilessly killed and over a hundred have been injured by the Indian occupation forces in their brutal actions.
When asked about the response of international community to the situation, the spokesperson said it is a continuous process. International reaction is pouring in on this development and so far the response is very positive to Pakistan's stance, he added. He said that Pakistan is always ready for negotiations and dialogue for peaceful resolution of issues. It is India that has always shied away from negotiations and talks, he added.
In reply to a question, the spokesperson rejected the impression that chief of Jama'at-ud-Da'wah Hafiz Saeed has been released, adding that any news in this regard is fake.
About situation in Hong Kong, he said that Pakistan believes that Hong Kong's affairs are China's internal affairs. "We therefore, understand the measures taken by the central government of China and the Hong Kong SAR government to safeguard national sovereignty and Hong Kong's prosperity and stability," he said.
He further said that Pakistan believes that stability and prosperity in Hong Kong would soon resume. "We also believe that all countries should uphold international law and the basic norm of non-interference in internal affairs of other countries," he added.
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