FO rejects India’s objection to new political map

Foreign Office spokesperson says there has been no change of stance on the Kashmir issue

ISLAMABAD:

Islamabad on Thursday rebuffing India’s objection stated that “it was not a contradiction to show Jammu and Kashmir in Pakistan’s [new] political map as part of Pakistan”.

In her weekly press conference, Foreign Office Spokessperson Aisha Farooqui stated that that was no change of any kind in Pakistan’s stance.

“Pakistan's new political map negates the Indian map released last year,” she said adding that Prime Minister Imran Khan’s address in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK’s) legislative assembly was a gesture to express solidarity with Kashmiri people.

She also said that the foreign minister also called on the international community to take notice of the situation in the occupied valley.

“All over the world, voices were raised against Indian oppression in Occupied-Kashmir,” she said.

“India's unilateral move was rejected outright,” she maintained adding that Turkey and the OIC Human Rights Commission also expressed solidarity with the situation in IIOJK.

Talking about Kashmir, Farooqui said that discussion on the besieged valley issue at a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting means that it is not India’s internal matter.

The Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Contact Group has made efforts on Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

Beirut blast

Briefing the media over the situation of Pakistani families in Beirut, the FO spokesperson stated that two families were badly affected by the blast.

A teenager was martyred and the father and a sister are in critical condition in a hospital,” she said.

The Foreign Office offered condolences to the Lebanese government and people over the loss of life in the Beirut’s port blast that killed more than 100 people and injured more than 5,000.

She said another Pakistani family was affected; however, they have been accommodated in hotel as their apartment was demolished.

“Pakistan Embassy in Beirut has quickly responded to the situation and circulated contact details and email addresses. Any Pakistanis affected by the blasts or their relatives in Pakistan can contact Embassy officials to inquire about the well-being of their relatives,” Farooqui stated.

Afghan peace process

Farooqui reaffirmed Pakistan's diplomatic support to facilitate the peace process in Afghanistan.

“Pakistan has repeatedly said that miscreants will try to destroy the Afghan peace process,” she said. “The Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity is expected to convene soon.”

She added that July 31 firing incident at Chaman border, which resulted in casualties, was an act of self-defence by Pakistan to protect the local population.

She added that the incident was earlier condemned by Pakistan.

Ram mandir

Pakistan also reiterated its strong condemnation of construction of ‘Ram Mandir’ on the site where historic Babri Masjid stood for around five centuries.

“The flawed judgment of the Indian Supreme Court paving the way for construction of the temple not only reflects the preponderance of faith over justice but also the growing majoritarianism in today’s India, where minorities, particularly Muslims and their places of worship, are increasingly under attack,” the FO spokesperson said.