ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday claimed that India was trying to construct new bunkers along the working boundary in violation of an agreement and asserted that it would allow the neighbouring country to do so, Radio Pakistan reported.
“According to the agreement on the working boundary, India and Pakistan cannot carryout constructions within 500 metres of the boundary,” said Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam during her weekly press briefing in Islamabad.
She further reiterated that India was targeting the civilian population on the Line of Control and working boundary in clear violation of the ceasefire agreement.
Pakistan has highlighted the issue of ‘unprovoked’ Indian firing on LoC and working boundary at the United Nations and other fora, she added.
“UN has the responsibility to make UNMOGIP more effective to deal with the ceasefire violations,” she affirmed.
“On the other side of the Line of Control, are our Kashmiri brothers and sisters, that's why Pakistan has always given measured response to Indian unprovoked firing and shelling on the civilians on Pakistani side,” the spokesperson said.
Aslam further said that violent incidents with Iran are not similar to those with India.
“Pakistan's disputes with India are on fundamental issues, which need to be resolved through negotiations.”
Regarding Iran, Aslam said Pakistan and Iran enjoy strong multifaceted relations.
“Pakistan has a long border with Iran, which both the countries want to monitor in an effective manner to avoid violence.”
Referring to the recent meeting between Pakistani and Iranian border forces' chiefs that took place in Tehran, Aslam said the officials deliberated on different ways to improve border surveillance so that irritants could be removed.
Shifting her focus to Afghanistan, Aslam said the Afghan president would visit Islamabad.
Referring to the prime minister's foreign affairs adviser Sartaj Aziz’s visit to Afghanistan to extend a formal invitation to the new Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, she said, “Sartaj Aziz's meeting with new Afghan leadership remained very positive. Both countries have a strong desire to transform their partnership into economic relations."
“There are many areas which can be tapped to further our ties. There is a thought of connecting Central Asia with Pakistan through Kabul and recently CASA-1000 agreement is a major step forward. Both countries are focusing on these lines to transform their partnership, which is healthy sign.”
Regarding Afghan reconciliation, she reiterated Pakistan's stance that it is ready to extend all possible support to Kabul in an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned peace process.
“Pakistan is not supporting any single group in Afghanistan,” the spokesperson asserted.
Responding to a question pertaining to Russia, Aslam said, “Our ties are moving in an upward trajectory.”
“Both countries, under strategic dialogue, hold meetings time and again to discuss all areas, including trade and investment, security and other regional issues,” she added
Furthermore, Aslam said Malala Yousafzai who recently won the Nobel Peace Prize can visit her homeland whenever she wants to.
PM to attend SAARC summit
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is likely to attend the SAARC summit to be held between November 26 and 27.
The summit will be preceded by the Council of Ministers meeting and the senior officials meeting.
Responding to a question on whether there was any chance of meeting Nawaz and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the summit, the spokesperson said no readout have been given out for any bilateral meeting that will take place.
COMMENTS (14)
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@concerned citizen: Eduacted people?do know the pain when ur soilders are beheaded but govt doesnt act strong ?do u know the pain when so called muslim country kills muslims on other side of border on eid?do u know the pain when a big democratic powerful country behave like a useless when small country fires ?so eduaction is irrelavent here
The peace wills never come. Let Pakistan do whatever they are capable of.
@concerned citizen: In facor of what stuff? War? No Indian is in favor of war. But Indians are sick and tired of Pakistan trying to infiltrate jihadis under cover fire and India giing a mild response because it is afraid of the the implied threat of the matter escalating to a nuclear war. None of the wars with Pakistan have been started by India and our PM has said in no uncertain terms that wars are simply not possile in this day and age. But yhe present overnment knows that threat of escalation to nuclear war is a bluff. India has a No first use policyand will never use nuclear weapons and Pakistani generals are intelligent enoygh to know that if they use nuclear weapons, then in the response from India, Pakistan will cease to exist. So hey will also never use those weapons.
If Pakistan.stopped firing, India would reciprocate. But Pakistan is trying to restore the status quo which prevailed in Manmohan Songh's time which is that Pakistan would start firing and India would rush to ask for flag meetings. India is now saying, talks will only happen when Pakistan stops shooting.
@Pakistani Patriot: LOL you are a patriot of "pakistan"/occupied India. We have not forgotten you are occupying our lands, one day we will destroy you. We have more wealth and power then Pakistan, we are building a new India under a nationalist government headed by PM Modi. So watch out. Try using nuclear weapons or the threat of using them and see what we do to you. We will more then destroy you, we will make sure the nuclear fall out affects the Islamic countries as well.
@Pakistani Patriot: Lol! Good job! Many there have no idea what a bunker is, sounds like it. It's a heavily constructed underground building where you hide after killing innocent civilians across the border. It's also a place you go to toilet during retaliation from the enemy.
Lolz.We have killed there 1100 highly paid & trained terrorists through out our country. Well there strategic investment has been sinking, so they are kind of giving it some life. Well do what ever you want. Build bunkers (well you must build toilets before bunkers..such a shame) or what. we know, Pak Army will always be an iron wall for your cowardly moves. Allah Pakistan ka Hami wa Nasir..
An appropriate response would be for Pakistan to construct bunkers on their side as well.
it's clear that india is trying to take advantage of all the chaos going on in pakistan. seems like they're all in for creating a war-like situation. what's even sadder than that is the comments by all indians here, never thought the educated lot were in favor of such stuff.
If the bunkers are on Indian side, what is your problem? Oh - it may pose problem for your assets to cross is it?
India will construct as many bunkers as it wants. Do something if you can!!!
Finally.. I'm sooo Happy that GOI has finally developed a spine. earlier instructions to Army from GOI used to be “act responsively" and “calculated response". Now the army has been given free hand on LOC, the new instructions are to “act accordingly" and "disproportionate response". SALUTE TO AJIT DOVAL..!!
Well done India