Anti-Pakistan statements by Indian leaders threat to peace: Khawaja Asif

Says Islamabad wants smooth ties with Delhi after resolving issues between the two countries including Kashmir

Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif has said that recent statements by Indian leadership against Pakistan are a threat for peace in the region.

In a written statement submitted to the Senate on Friday, according to Express News, Asif reiterated that Pakistan wants a concrete solution for all the issues, including Kashmir, which remained a hurdle in creating a smooth relationship with India.



“In a 2015 accord between Pakistan and India, it was decided that the countries would find a long-lasting solution to their differences through dialogue,” said the foreign minister and added, “unfortunately, India never responded well to our will of establishing a cordial relationship between the two neighbouring nations.”

Asif said that anti-Pakistan statements by a number of Indian leaders were a threat to peace even when Islamabad was following a policy of maintaining good ties with the world including its neighbours.

“The increasing human rights violations by the Indian forces in Kashmir are a matter to grave concern.”

Pakistan and India both claim Kashmir, and have fought two of their three wars over the Himalayan region, which they have disputed since partition and independence from British colonial rule in 1947.

While commenting on repeated ceasefire violations by India along with Line of Control (LoC) and the Working Boundary (WB), Asif continued in his statement that in 2018 only, more than 170 times Indian forces violated the truce ceasefire.

“India purposely escalated tensions along the borders and in first 24 days of the current year, has killed 11 civilians and injured 48 people in varying firing incidents along the borders with Pakistan,” said Asif.

Pakistan has repeatedly condemned increasing ceasefire violations by Indian forces due to which, several civilians have lost their lives.



Islamabad has been urging New Delhi to respect the 2003 ceasefire arrangement, investigate the incidents of ceasefire violations, instruct Indian forces to respect the ceasefire in letter and spirit and maintain peace on the LoC. However, the violation of the truce has still been continuing.