Says Delhi sponsors terrorists operating from Afghan soil. FO describes Pak’s actions as “legitimate, proportionate” and
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan on Wednesday strongly rejected India’s criticism over its recent military action against terrorist hideouts in Afghanistan, terming New Delhi’s statement “baseless” and said India was actively sponsoring terrorist groups operating against Pakistan from Afghan soil.
The Ministry of External Affairs issued this response after India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) condemned Pakistan’s cross-border strikes, describing them as a “blatant act of aggression” and a threat to regional peace and stability. India had also claimed that the strikes reflected Pakistan’s “continued pattern of reckless behavior” and were an attempt to “externalize its internal failures through desperate acts of violence beyond its borders”.
Responding to the Indian allegations, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Pakistan’s actions constituted “legitimate, targeted and proportionate” measures against terrorist infrastructure in Afghanistan.
“Pakistan rejects the Indian Ministry of External Affairs’ baseless statement on Pakistan’s legitimate, targeted and proportionate actions against terrorist infrastructure in Afghanistan,” the spokesperson said.
The Foreign Ministry further termed India’s remarks as “absurd”, saying they were made by a country that had historically interfered and undermined the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its neighbors, in violation of the United Nations Charter.
The spokesperson also highlighted that India continues to suppress the right to self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, in violation of relevant UN resolutions.
He further said that India had “actively aided and sponsored terrorist groups operating from Afghan soil against Pakistan”, in violation of the UN Security Council sanctions regime, and continued to play the role of a regional disruptor.
“Such baseless accusations and inflammatory statements against Pakistan must not be accepted,” FO said.
The statement reiterated that Pakistan will continue to take all appropriate measures to ensure the safety and security of its citizens in accordance with international law.
The latest exchange came days after Pakistan carried out intelligence operations and airstrikes targeting what it described as terrorist hideouts along the Afghan border following the deadly attack in Karachi claimed by the proscribed Jamaat-ul-Ahrar faction of the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Islamabad says the perpetrators of several recent terrorist attacks operated from sanctuaries in Afghanistan.
