News Desk |
Dr. Muhammad Faisal, the official spokesperson for the Foreign Office, on Thursday, noted that relations between Washington and Islamabad have resumed to normal given the success of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s 3-day US visit.
Dr. Faisal noted that Washington will no longer be asking the Pakistani nation to “do more” as the relationship is now bound by trust and mutual respect amongst the senior leadership of the two countries.
Addressing the weekly press briefing at the Foreign Office, Dr. Faisal noted, “Relations between the US and Pakistan have been reestablished. Pakistan was not urged to “do more”.
Dr. Faisal noted that arrangements are being made to provide India consular access to RAW spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, and New Delhi has been informed of this development.
The Foreign Office spokesperson noted that Washington, and the rest of the world, has accepted Pakistan’s cooperative role as a “mediator” in the ongoing Afghan reconciliation process. He noted that President Trump was appreciative for Pakistan’s role as the facilitator. Dr. Faisal added that Pakistan and the US will move forward with their own agendas across the region.
India Unwilling to Talk
Discussing US President Donald Trump’s offer to act as a “mediator or arbitrator” to resolve the Kashmir conflict, a long-standing dispute that has stirred war and chaos between India and Pakistan for the last 7- years. Dr. Faisal lamented that despite Trump’s generous offer to mediate, New Delhi was simply “not ready to talk”.
Dr. Faisal noted, “Resolving issues through dialogue is the only way-forward for India and Pakistan. India needs to understand this, and maybe, if Trump mediates, he can help India understand.”
Condemning the brutalities committed by the Indian occupation forces in Kashmir, Dr. Faisal noted that this barbaric dispute must come to an end as Kashmiris deserve peace and relief after suffering Indian brutality for decades. He stressed that India “will have to adopt a mature approach towards the conflict.”
Read more: ICJ rejects plea to send Jadhav back to India
Dr. Faisal noted that arrangements are being made to provide India consular access to RAW spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, and New Delhi has been informed of this development.
Responding to a question on the involvement of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in the identification of Osama bin Laden’s whereabouts, Dr. Faisal noted, “Pakistan had provided some early information regarding Osama bin Laden to the US.”
He noted that he will neither confirm nor deny the ISI’s involvement with the investigations carried out by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in the hunt for Osama bin Laden.
2 Martyred by Ceasefire Violations
On Thursday, Dr. Mohammad Faisal, Director-General SA and SAARC, summoned the Indian Deputy High Commissioner, Ambassador Gaurav Ahluwalia to launch a diplomatic demarche against the unprovoked ceasefire violations committed by the Indian occupation forces along the Line of Control (LoC) on 22nd and 23rd of July, 2019.
The Director General (SA & SAARC) urged that the Indian side should permit UNMOGIP to play its mandated role as per the UN Security Council resolutions.
The ceasefire violations committed by India on 22nd July, 2019, in the LoC’s Bagsar sector resulted in the martyrdom of an innocent 12-year old boy, Mohammad Riaz, while an 18-year-old Zabeeullah was gravely injured. On 23rd July, unprovoked ceasefire violations in the Hotspring, Banchirian and Jandrot sectors alongside the LoC, resulted in the death of an innocent civilian, Jan Bibi, while three civilians, Parveen Bibi, Khalid and Naseem, sustained grave injuries.
A statement issued by the Foreign Office noted, “The Indian forces along the Line of Control and the Working boundary are continuously targeting civilian populated areas with heavy weapons. This unprecedented escalation in ceasefire violations by India is continuing from the year 2017 when the Indian forces committed 1970 ceasefire violations.”
It further added, “The deliberate targeting of civilian populated areas is indeed deplorable and contrary to human dignity, international human rights and humanitarian laws. The ceasefire violations by India are a threat to regional peace and security and may lead to a strategic miscalculation.”
Dr. Faisal, Director-General SA, and SAARC urged Indian Ambassador Gaurav Ahluwalia to respect the 2003 Ceasefire agreement, and conduct an investigation against these and other ceasefire violations committed by the Indian occupation forces. He further urged the Indian Ambassador to “instruct the Indian forces to respect the ceasefire, in letter and spirit and maintain peace on the LoC and the Working Boundary.”
Read more: Indian forces continue cowardly attacks on civilians along LOC
The FO press release stated, “The Director General (SA & SAARC) urged that the Indian side should permit UNMOGIP to play its mandated role as per the UN Security Council resolutions.”