Foreign Office refuses to get drawn into PTI-Israel nexus debate

FO spokesperson asked to explain what prompted Israel to launch unusual broadside against Pakistan at the UNHRC

ISLAMABAD:

The Foreign Office on Thursday refrained from indulging into controversy surrounding the alleged nexus between Israel and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) after Tel Aviv’s unusual outburst against Pakistan at the UN Human Rights Council earlier this week.

The statement by Israel’s Permanent Representative at the UN in Geneva questioning Pakistan’s human rights record and recent crackdown against a political party drew a strong reaction from the ruling coalition.

The Foreign Office's reaction was diplomatic, but several ministers presented the Israeli envoy’s remarks as proof of links between the Jewish state and former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Also read Pakistan hits back at Israel over HR criticism

At a weekly news briefing, the Foreign Office spokesperson was asked to explain as to what prompted Israel to launch a broadside against Pakistan. She was particularly referring to statements given by ministers alleging the nexus between Israel and the PTI.

“I do not have any way to guess what prompts another government to undertake a particular position. I can only comment on how Pakistan sees the negative statement made in Geneva,” spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said.

“I would not like to respond to a political question. Our reaction to the statement made by the Israeli Permanent Representative in Geneva has been clearly articulated,” she replied when pressed if the Israeli move had any link with the current political situation or party.

Instead she stuck to the statement issued earlier by the Foreign Office.

“Pakistan believes that Israel's statement at the UN Human Rights Council during Pakistan's UPR review process was politically motivated,” Mumtaz said.

“It was at variance with the otherwise positive tone of the session. We believe that instead of giving unsolicited advice, Israel should reflect on its own human rights record and its suppression of the Palestinian people in occupied Palestinian territories and do course correction,” she further said.

On Thursday, Imran too took to Twitter and strongly denounced Israel for criticising Pakistan. However, he blamed the current government for its failure. According to the PTI chairman, the “corrupt and fascist” government destroyed Pakistan internally and externally.

Read more PTI chief acted on Israel’s instance, says Tarar

Responding to the question on the latest statement by an Afghan Taliban spokesperson that TTP was Pakistan’s problem, the spokesperson said it was clear that the responsibility of ensuring that the soil of Afghanistan is not used for terrorism against Pakistan lies with the Afghan authorities.

“It is their responsibility and they have accepted this responsibility on various occasions, including in the trilateral statement which was issued when the Foreign Minister of China and the Acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan visited Islamabad in May.”

“They have assured Pakistan that the Afghan soil will not be used for terrorism directed against Pakistan. We expect them to fulfill those promises,” she said.