Pakistan invites UN to hold inquiry into Indian claims of targeting 'launch pads'

UNMOGIP will be welcomed to move into any area in Pakistan to validate Indian claims, says FO spokesperson

ISLAMABAD: In response to Indian allegations of targeting "launch pads" across the Line of Control (LoC), Pakistan has formally asked the United Nations to obtain information from New Delhi over its allegations.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Aisha Farooqui, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, called on the UN to task UNMOGIP to validate Indian claims of "infiltration attempts" and targeting launch pads on the Pakistani side of the border along LoC.

"[UNMOGIP] will be welcomed to move into any area without sharing specifics with the Pakistan government to validate Indian claims," the FO spokesperson said.

Pakistan has always categorically rejected the baseless Indian allegations of so-called “infiltration attempts” and preposterous claims of targeting of fictional “launch pads,” read the statement.

Indian military’s senior commander deputed in the disputed valley had alleged that the Pakistan Army taking advantage of Covid-19 pandemic, is trying to infiltrate coronavirus infected patients into the occupied valley and committing ceasefire violations along the de facto border.

"The Indian propaganda on this account, however, remains incessant," said the FO.



As Pakistan has consistently pointed out, regurgitation of these allegations and spurious claims by India is aimed at diverting the world’s attention from India’s state-terrorism and grave human rights violations in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&K), read the FO statement.

The official statement said India also seeks to use these allegations as a pretext for launching “false flag” operation and deliberately targeting of innocent civilians along the LoC.

"To expose the Indian falsehoods to the world, Pakistan has taken neutral observers, journalists, human rights organisations and Islamabad based diplomats to the LoC on several occasions in the past."

In October 2019, following the Indian army chief’s unfounded allegations and claims, Indian diplomats were also invited to accompany other diplomats to the site of the so-called “launch pads” targeted by Indian artillery, it said.

Pakistan also asked the Indian government to provide coordinates of the allegedly engaged targets. "However, while the Indian diplomats failed to turn up for the site visit, the Indian government failed to provide any coordinates."

While India has restricted the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) from visiting IOJ&K and the LoC, there are no such restrictions on UNMOGIP in Pakistan or AJK.

Pakistan’s policy and approach is clear as it does not allow use of its soil for any activity against anyone.

"Meanwhile, as the world grapples with the global pandemic, we hope India would act responsibly, cut down on its belligerent rhetoric and aggressive measures on the ground, stop its ceasefire violations and deliberate targeting of civilian population, and enable the UNMOGIP to play its mandated role effectively," the official communique read.

"This is imperative for peace and stability in South Asia."