FO rejects India’s ‘irresponsible’ remarks on Pak-China joint statement

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office today (Sunday) has strongly rejected the ‘unwarranted’ and ‘irresponsible’ comments made by Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on the Joint Press Release of the Second Round of China-Pakistan Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue.

According to a statement, FO Spokesperson said, “The MEA’s contentions about Jammu and Kashmir being the so-called integral and inalienable part of India and an internal affair are a laughable fiction, totally contrary to historical and legal facts and in violation of the relevant United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolutions.”

“India’s self-serving claims regarding Jammu and Kashmir, including the parts which are under illegal Indian occupation, have no basis whatsoever,” FO Spokesperson Zahid Chaudhry added.

Earlier on Saturday, India rejected the joint statement in which the Chinese side stated that the Kashmir issue should be resolved according to the relevant UNSC resolutions and opposed unilateral actions in the region.

The Indian MEA Spokesperson said, “The union territory of Jammu and Kashmir is an integral and inalienable part of India and we expect the parties concerned not to interfere in matters that are internal affairs of India.”

“India also reiterated its opposition to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC),” Indian MEA Spokesperson added.

In this regard, Pakistan also rejected India’s malicious propaganda against the CPEC, which is another manifestation of desperate Indian attempts to mislead the world community.

“India has no locus standi on the issue – historical, legal or moral. The regurgitation of false claims by India can neither change facts nor divert attention from India’s state-terrorism in the IIOJK and its egregious violations of human rights of the Kashmiri people,” FO spokesperson added.

The FO Spokesperson further said that India should faithfully implement its international obligations rather than resorting to false and misleading assertions

“India must immediately vacate its illegal and forcible occupation of IIOJK and let the Kashmiris exercise their inalienable right to self-determination through a free and impartial plebiscite under the auspices of the United Nations as enshrined in the relevant UNSC Resolutions,” it added.