An Indian paramilitary soldier stands guard during a strike in Srinagar on February 16, 2013. PHOTO: AFP
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan on Friday voiced ‘deep concern’ over the killing of more than six protesters and the alleged desecration of the Holy Quran by Indian paramilitary personnel in Indian-administered Kashmir.
“Such acts incite violence and hurt the sentiments of Muslims not only in Pakistan but all over the world,” foreign ministry spokesperson Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry told reporters at his weekly briefing at the Foreign Office.
“We have noted the comments of the Indian leadership to carry out an investigation into the incident,” he said, adding, “The Government of Pakistan calls for a thorough and proper investigation to be carried out expeditiously and for bringing those responsible for this act to justice.”
Meanwhile, Chaudhry said New Delhi, in its preliminary response regarding allegations that the Parliament and Mumbai attacks were staged, dismissed claims that any such statement had been made by former home ministry official Satish Verma.
“We are still in the process of getting full information on this matter,” the spokesperson added.
Responding to questions, he said Pakistan wanted to resume composite dialogue with India and prime minister’s special envoy Shaharyar M Khan has been designated to conduct track-II diplomacy aimed at creating a conducive environment towards this end.
In reply to another question, he said Prime Minister’s Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz would visit Afghanistan on Sunday to formally invite Afghan President Hamid Karzai for a visit to Pakistan.
“The other objective of the visit is to hold substantive preparations for the summit-level meeting. We attach high importance to our bilateral relations with Afghanistan, which would be reviewed during the visit. Pakistan and Afghanistan have a multifaceted relationship,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 19th, 2013.
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Will Pakistan and other Muslim countries ever raise their voice against the desecration of human dignity of so many people living in Islamic lands and elsewhere and whose direct and unambiguous inspiration is the Qur'an? Shame on us who are even ready to die for such a book, filled with so much hatred 'outsiders', thanks be to God, among whom I count, making millions of them live as second-class citizens, deprived of their basic rights and dignity:(