Pakistan requests UNSC session amid Indian threats

Qureshi says Delhi may go for a false flag operation to divert attention from protests against CAB

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has requested convening the UN Security Council meeting at the earliest to discuss the recent Indian actions along the LoC that may be part of its preparation for a ‘false flag’ operation to divert attention from the current protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAB).

The request was made in a letter written by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi to the UNSC president on Thursday, said a statement issued by the Foreign Office here.

“In view of the Indian actions, on December 12, 2019, I wrote another letter to the Security Council president. This was my seventh letter in which I have identified the actions that reflect India's malicious intentions,” the statement quoted FM Qureshi as saying.

Qureshi, in his letter, drew the UNSC’s attention towards four specific developments and actions taken recently by India. “Since January 2019, nearly 3,000 ceasefire violations have taken place on the LoC. Nearly 300 innocent civilians, including women and children, have been targeted,” according to the letter.

The letter further states that the LoC fence had been cut off at five different places which had been identified.

“What are the motives behind it? Is there going to be a new misadventure? We are also concerned about this,” Qureshi asked.

He further wrote that in addition, new deployments had been made. “Deployment of Brahmos missiles in Indian Occupied Kashmir needs attention. Spike anti-tank missiles deployment in IOK is of concern to us.

“Since August 2019 till now, missile tests at regular intervals reveal a clear pattern of the dangerous Indian intentions which can hurt the peace and stability of the region,” he informed the UNSC chief.

Based on this letter, for the second time China raised the issue at the UN Security Council. “Earlier in view of the Indian action of August 5, we raised the issue in the Security Council and the entire situation was reviewed in a closed-room meeting at the UN Security Council,” he pointed out.

The foreign minister said in view of the recent developments, China had raised the issue in a timely manner in the Security Council that they were concerned over these Indian actions and demanded that UNMOGIP, which was both on Pakistan’s side and also on the Indian side “must investigate the matter independently and report to the UN”.

“I think the matter has been raised at the right time and a date must be specified for this briefing soon, so facts are presented before the Security Council by an independent organisation,” he said.

He noted that the pattern in intentions of the Narendra Modi government was very clear.

“Firstly, on August 5, illegal measures were taken due to which the entire Kashmir staged protests both in Azad Kashmir as well as in IOK which the world has seen. Protest rallies were held worldwide in the United States, the European Union, the House of Commons and major capitals of the world.

“We think India has taken cruel steps to suppress them [Kashmiris] for instance today curfew has been in place for 136 days. There is a complete communications blackout. Media access is banned. International observers and diplomats cannot go there.”

Qureshi said along with this came the decision of the Babari Mosque, which “is causing a sense of deprivation and an inferiority complex of being a second-class citizen among the 20 million Muslims in India”.

“Minorities in India seem to be under a lot of pressure. The entire opposition is still protesting the NRC's move and in Assam, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee herself led the protests in five states on the new CAB,” he said.

Qureshi also referred to the statement made by the Indian Army chief where he said the tensions could escalate along the LoC.

“Our intelligence has picked signals and noticed extraordinary movements, which indicate malicious Indian designs.

“I want to assure the Narendra Modi’s government on behalf of the Pakistani people that we are peaceful people but India must not forget February 27.

“If any attack or any false flag operation is carried out or any attempt to attack Pakistan under any pretext, the Pakistani forces are ready, and timely and appropriate response will be given and the entire nation is with Pakistan Army to defend Pakistan’s ideology and geography, and will also stand side by side with the movement of right to self-determination of Kashmiris,” he cautioned India.

“We are peaceful people, but our desire for peace should not be considered our weakness.”