FO rejects Indian claims on AJK, urges focus on Kashmir issue

Pakistan on Thursday firmly rejected recent statements by Indian officials on the situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), with the Foreign Office saying New Delhi was attempting to divert attention from the unresolved Kashmir dispute and its own record in Indian-administered territory. At the weekly press briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Pakistan had “seen those statements” from India and “rejects India’s remarks in their entirety.” He said it was “untenable for a state like India, which has consistently denied the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) their right to self-determination, to claim concerns over the rights of Kashmiris”. He added that India, through such comments, was attempting to “divert attention from the unresolved status of Jammu and Kashmir and its own abysmal record in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir”. https://ift.tt/uO3GXg8 The spokesperson rejected any comparison between the two sides of the Line of Control (LoC), saying Pakistan “also rejects any insinuation of the false equivalence between the situation in IIOJK and matters relating to AJK”. He said IIOJK was “an illegally annexed, internationally recognised disputed territory,” where people had “suffered systemic abuses under draconian laws” and had been denied their right to self-determination under UN Security Council resolutions. By contrast, he said, “the situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir… [is being] addressed within a democratic and constitutional framework.” He added, “Any attempt to conflate the two is misleading and does not withstand objective scrutiny”. Read: US and Iran trade attacks for a second day, undermining shaky ceasefire Reiterating Pakistan’s position, he said Islamabad would continue to support “the human rights of Kashmiris, including their inalienable right to self-determination,” and pursue a “peaceful resolution of these eight decades-old disputes in accordance with international law… and the wishes and aspirations of the Kashmiri people.” He also urged India to agree to a UN-supervised plebiscite, saying, “If India sincerely believes that the wishes of the Kashmiri people… should prevail… it must uphold their right to self-determination.” Nuclear concerns Responding to questions on a recent Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) report, the spokesperson said Pakistan had reviewed the findings and was not surprised. He said Pakistan “does not wish to endorse or lend credence to SIPRI’s methodology,” but its findings “nevertheless are not surprising”. Andrabi noted that the report “broadly corroborates concerns that Pakistan has consistently been raising regarding India’s continued vertical proliferation.”The spokesperson added, “We also believe that open-source estimates such as SIPRI may not fully reflect the actual scale of India’s nuclear arsenal, which may actually be higher”. He warned that developments in India’s nuclear posture, including missile systems and submarines, could “enhance operational readiness, complicate crisis stability, and carry implications that extend beyond South Asia with grave consequences for international peace and security.” Pakistan, he said, “does not seek an arms race” but remains “mindful of the evolving security environment” and will take “all measures essential for preserving strategic stability.” He urged the international community to “closely monitor developments and deployments of India’s nuclear arsenal.” Water rights The spokesperson also strongly reacted to reported remarks by India’s Water Resources Minister suggesting that “not a single drop of water will go to Pakistan in coming years.” Read More: Dialogue remains 'most effective tool' to bridge differences, Pakistan tells UN He said Pakistan had seen the statement and warned that any attempt to restrict water would be “deeply irresponsible” and violate international obligations and bilateral agreements. Andrabi stated that Pakistan firmly rejects any notion that water can be treated as a "political tool or instrument of coercion or a weapon.” He warned such actions would threaten regional stability and said responsibility would “fall squarely on India’s shoulders.” Andrabi reiterated, “Pakistan’s rights and interests… are non-negotiable.” He said Islamabad would defend its water rights through “all available diplomatic, legal, political, economic and other measures”. He further warned that any attempt to block water vital to Pakistan’s population could be considered “an extremely grave act” and “possibly amount to an act of war”. Citing Article 51 of the UN Charter, he said Pakistan retained the right to self-defence and would take “all necessary measures to safeguard its economy… and the lives of its 250 million people”. Somali hostage situation Andrabi also provided updates on Pakistani citizens held hostage on a cargo vessel by Somali pirates, saying they had been in captivity for “almost 50 days”. He said Pakistan was engaged with Somali authorities, the shipowner, and relevant tribal actors in Puntland to secure their release. The FO spokesperson also noted that the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Ishaq Dar had recently spoken to Somalia’s Foreign Minister, while Pakistan’s ambassador in Somalia had also been engaged. He said efforts included “inter-ministerial, inter-departmental meetings” and continued diplomatic engagement. Andrabi also said Pakistan was working to improve the living conditions of hostages of multiple nationalities, including Indonesians, Indians, Myanmar and Sri Lankans. He added that Pakistan “feels for the individuals” and their families, but described the situation as “operationally challenging.” Middle East conflict On the Middle East, the spokesperson said Pakistan remained “deeply concerned” over the recent escalation and urged all parties to adhere to the ceasefire understandings. He said Pakistan believed “diplomacy and dialogue should be the guiding principles” for resolving disputes. Andrabi highlighted Pakistan’s engagement with regional actors, including Iran, the United States and Turkey, saying these contacts were aimed at de-escalation. He noted that Pakistan had facilitated diplomatic engagement, which contributed to a ceasefire understanding between Israel and Lebanon, describing it as a “positive development” achieved with US involvement. The spokesperson added that Pakistan would continue efforts for peace and stability in the region under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who had emphasised remaining on “the path of peace and diplomacy”.

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