Pakistan on Thursday voiced concern over the US' "disturbing" decision to sell integrated air defence weapons system (IADWS) to India, saying the growing defence ties between Washington and New Delhi, including purchase of arms, would contribute towards further destabilization of peace and security in the region.
"Pakistan has seen the advance notice issued by the United States Defence Security Cooperation Agency, notifying State Department's approval of foreign military sale to India of an Integrated Air Defence Weapons Systems (IADWS)," Foreign Office Spokesperson Aisha Farooqui told at her weekly media briefing.
She said that sale of such sophisticated weapons system to India at this time was particularly disturbing as it would further destabilize the already volatile region.
"The US decision would disturb the strategic balance in south Asia with serious security implications for Pakistan and the region," Farooqui said, adding that the international community was fully aware of India's aggressive policy designs against Pakistan and threatening statements of Indian political and military leaders.
She asserted that south Asia could not afford an arms race and conflict. "It is therefore incumbent upon the international community to prevent further destabilization of the region," Farooqui said, adding that the growing defence ties including purchase of arms between India and the US would contribute towards further destabilization of peace and security in the region.
The spokesperson also feared that India might resort to a "false flag" operation ahead of the high profile visits to the region - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres trip to Pakistan and US President Donald Trump's visit to India.
"We are concerned about the possibility of India seeking to create some distraction during forthcoming high-profile visits to the region, i.e, President Erdogan and the UNSG to Pakistan and President Trump to India," she said, adding that there had been a consistent pattern in the BJP government resorting to some provocation or distraction around important international events.
For a long time, Farooqui pointed out that Pakistan had been warning the international community about the possibility of some "false flag" operation by India.
"Such provocations are obviously designed to divert global attention from India's state-terrorism in IOJ&K as well as from Pakistan's ongoing successful efforts in the counter-terrorism arena and with respect to fulfillment of our obligations under the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) regime," she said.
Farooqui stated that the RSS-inspired BJP government's tactics have become all too predictable and are being called out and shamed even inside India.
While the credibility of such unfortunate Indian moves is already too low by now, she added that they still carry an inherent risk of further inflaming the bilateral environment and potentially leading to unforeseeable consequences.
Farooqui, while calling upon the international community to beware of any such irresponsible and ill-considered step by the Indian government, said that Pakistan maintained an unwavering resolve to respond most effectively and immediately to any Indian provocation and to continue "our march on the path to national development and regional peace and stability."
Responding to a question about Pakistan's case with the FATF, she said that Pakistan efforts and measures have been widely acknowledged. "We are certainly hopeful and working closely with our partners in the international community in this regard," she added.
When asked to comment on an anti-terrorism court's decision of sentencing Jamaatud Dawa (JuD)'s chief Hafiz Saeed and his aide to five-and-a-half years imprisonment ahead of the upcoming plenary of the FATF in Paris, the spokesperson declined to comment, saying: "the matter relates to the Ministry of Interior".
About President Trump's upcoming visit to India, she said that President Trump had offered mediation on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute on several occasions.
"We hope to see those offers being translated into practical actions. We hope that the dispute of Jammu and Kashmir will be raised during President Trump's visit to India," she said, adding that non resolution of the dispute was one of the most destabilizing factors for peace and security in the region.
Farooqui, while referring to the rising ceasefire violations by India, pointed out that since the beginning of this year, India had already committed 272 ceasefire violations along the LoC in six weeks that resulted in loss of lives of three civilians and injuries to 25 others.
Sought to comment on the BJP's defeat in Delhi's state election, she refrained from making any comment, saying: "This is a choice made by the people of Delhi, on which we do not comment".
However, Farooqui highlighted that during the campaign the BJP leadership again resorted to its familiar tactic of Pakistan-bashing for making electoral gains. "Clearly it did not succeed this time," she added.
The spokesperson also declined to comment on the reported escape of former Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesperson Ehsanullah Ehsan from captivity, saying the matter pertained to the Ministry of Interior.
About Turkish president's ongoing two-day visit, she said Turkey and Pakistan relations were like a relationship between two brothers. "The visit of President Erdogan is part of ongoing efforts on both sides to further strengthen our bilateral ties in all areas," she added.
About the UN chief's visit to the country, Farooqui said that on Sunday, from 16-19 February, the UN secretary-general will be visiting Pakistan. During the visit, the UN chief will call on the president and the prime minister.
He will also meet Foreign Minister Qureshi at the Foreign Office. The secretary-general's other engagements include interactions with parliamentarians, media and the youth. He will deliver special talk on sustainable development, climate change and peacekeeping.
The next day, on 17th February, he will participate in the international "Conference on 40 years of Hosting Afghan Refugees in Pakistan - A New Partnership for Solidarity". Farooqui said that the conference would be attended by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, as well as ministers and senior officials from around 20 countries, who had been supporting the Afghan refugees across the globe.
The secretary-general will also pay a visit to Lahore and travel to the Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib. She said that conference was taking place at an important juncture when efforts at consolidating peace in Afghanistan were making progress.
"Pakistan is confident that the conference will reinforce international efforts as agreed to in the UN Global Compact on Refugees and Global Refugee Forum to bring about a renewed focus on the Afghan refugees," Farooqui said.
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