Pakistan rejects assertions in 'US-India 2+2 Dialogue' joint statement

Anti-Pakistan assertions made by Indian ministers of Defence are reprehensible, says FO

The government in Islamabad has taken a strong exception to the unwarranted references to Pakistan in the joint statement issued after the conclusion of ‘US-India 2+2 Dialogue’ held between officials of New Delhi and Washington.

The meeting was attended by by US Secretary of Mike Pompeo and Secretary of Defence Mark Esper, Minister of Defence Rajnath Singh and Minister of External Affairs Jaishankar held at the Department of State in Washington on Wednesday.

According to the statement issued by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, the ministers called on Pakistan to take immediate, sustained and irreversible action to ensure that no territory under its control is used for terrorism against other countries in any manner.

“The anti-Pakistan assertions made by Indian Ministers of Defence and External Affairs during the Joint Press Availability are equally reprehensible,” said the Foreign Office (FO) in a statement issued on Friday.

The FO also condemned the "selective and one-sided nature" of the statement. It added grave human rights situation in Indian Occupied Kashmir since New Delhi's action of abrogating the disputed region autonomous status on August 5 "poses a serious threat to peace and security in South Asia”.

Failing to take cognisance of this serious situation is tantamount to abdication of international responsibility, the FO statement said.

"The international community recognises Pakistan’s efforts, sacrifices and successes in the fight against terrorism. We believe India’s state-terrorism in IOJ&K and its threats to Pakistan imperil regional peace and security."

Our concerns and rejection of the unwarranted reference to Pakistan have been conveyed to the US officials through diplomatic channels, the statement concluded.