The spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Shafqat Ali Khan, said that cross-border terrorism remains the central challenge of its links with Afghanistan, saying that India is actively “condescending terrorism” in Afghan territory.
On Friday, during a weekly briefing, he said that Pakistan had repeatedly expressed concerns concerning terrorist sanctuaries in Afghanistan placing serious threats to regional stability. “Counter-terrorism remains a point of snack,” he noted, accusing India of “condescension of terrorism against Pakistan”.
Khan also condemned the demolition of the BJP government of more than 500 sanctuaries in Uttarakhand as proof of the increase in Islamophobia. He described the law as “another demonstration of the virulence with which the current exemption in India continues its anti-Muslim program”.
Responding to the Indian assault in the aftermath of the Pahalgam incident, Khan warned against the unilateral militarist assault. “No state can allow another to violate its sovereignty and its territorial integrity at will,” he said, affirming the preparation of Pakistan to defend its sovereignty “with complete vigor”.
Referring to the remarks made by the Minister of External Affairs of India, the Minister of External Affairs, Jaishankar on an alleged nuclear blackmail, Khan said that such discussions exposes India’s insecurity on the defense capacity of Pakistan.
He said Pakistan’s conventional forces are “adequate to dissuade India without self-imposed nuclear blackmail from which New Delhi suffers”.
On the Industry Water Treaty, he praised a provisional decision of the Permanent Arbitration Court which reprimanded the unilateral suspension of India from the Treaty. Describing India’s action as “totally illegal”, he said that the price “justifies Pakistan’s position in a very clear way”.
In addition, Khan confirmed that Pakistan and India exchanged prisoners on July 1 under the 2008 consular access agreement – Pakistan shared 246 names of Indian or Indian -origin prisoners, while India has delivered a list of 463 Pakistani prisoners. He urged the two nations to ensure the well-being of prisoners.
He also underlined the participation of Pakistan in regional diplomacy, saying that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed the delegation during the 17th Summit of Eco in Azerbaijan, where he held bilateral meetings and an advanced political program in Pakistan. Prime Minister Ishaq Dar also contacted Turkey leaders before the Imminent Visit of Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.
Responding to knowing whether Pakistan would seek American mediation in his dialogue with India, the spokesman said that Islamabad prefers diplomacy on the conflict. “It is the choice of India, that he takes the path of belligerent or takes measures for dialogue and reconciliation.”
Meanwhile, he firmly reiterated the unwavering support of Pakistan to Palestine. He called for a sovereign Palestinian state along the borders before 1967 with Al Quds Al Sharif as capital, stressing that any ceasefire in Gaza must end the occupation and respect for Palestinian rights.
“The path to peace does not reside by normalization under stress, but by justice, freedom and dignity for the Palestinian people,” he added.
