Islamabad censures Shiv Sena over ‘terrorist’ actions
Qazi also expressed concerns over India’s ‘massive arms buildup’ through acquisition of modern weaponry
A file photo of Foreign Office spokesperson Qazi Khalilullah. PHOTO: PID
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan appealed to the international community on Friday to take sharp note of what it called ‘the terrorist activities’ of India’s far-right Shiv Sena in a move likely to exacerbate ties between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
Shiv Sena, an ally of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has been in the headlines in recent weeks for its anti-Pakistan rhetoric and activities. The group, which is notorious for violence, has targeted even high-profile visitors from Pakistan including former foreign minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri and Ghazal maestro Ghulam Ali, and more recently, forced the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to cancel talks with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to revive bilateral cricketing ties.
Four Shiv Sena members arrested for disrupting Pakistani play
“I agree with you that the international community should take note of the terrorist activities of this organisation. We have repeatedly expressed our concern on its activities,” replied Foreign Office spokesperson Qazi Khalilullah when asked whether the world should take notice of Shiv Sena’s hate politics.
Pakistan has condemned Shiv Sena’s activities in the past but this was for the first time it branded the Hindu extremist group a ‘terrorist outfit’.
Speaking at his weekly briefing, Qazi also expressed concerns over India’s ‘massive arms buildup’ through acquisition of modern weaponry. “The growing conventional asymmetry undermines regional stability and also negatively impacts the balance of strategic deterrence,” he argued.
After Shiv Sena ink attack, Kulkarni to visit Pakistan for Kasuri’s book launch
He added that Pakistan remained fully cognisant of evolving security dynamics in South Asia and, while adhering to the policy of avoiding an arms race, will take all measures to safeguard its national security.
Confirming that India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi telephoned Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to express condolences over the loss of lives in the recent earthquake in Pakistan, the spokesperson said such ‘good gestures’ were made in the past by both sides.
“However, this does not diminish the need to resolve outstanding disputes and issues including Kashmir through a sustained and resilient dialogue process between the two neighbors, as emphasised in the Pakistan-US Joint Statement issued during the recent visit of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to Washington,” Qazi said.
#ProfileForPeace defeats the mind games Shiv Sena tried to play by using Malala
Pakistan ready to join fight against IS
Asked whether Pakistan was ready to join US-led alliance against the Islamic State (IS), the spokesperson said a cooperative approach was required to deal with the menace.
“We support coordinated action by concerned countries in their own territory to deal with terrorism. We have extended this kind of cooperation to Afghanistan. We are cognizant of the threat posed by Daesh (IS) and have alerted our security agencies accordingly,” he said.
Govt to welcome Putin
Reacting to reports that Russia’s President Vladimir Putin may visit Pakistan for the ground breaking ceremony of a gas pipeline project, the spokesperson said Islamabad would welcome the visit.
Shiv Sena disrupts Pakistani play in India
“Pakistan and Russia enjoy friendly relations and cooperate in many fields. We want to enhance relations with Russia in all fields of mutual interest,” he said adding recently, the two countries have signed an agreement for a gas pipeline from the North to South. Russia would be investing US$ 2 billion for the construction of this pipeline.
“There have been a number of visits from Pakistan to Russia in the past at the head of state and government level. We would, therefore, welcome the visit of the Russian president to Pakistan. Ground-breaking ceremony of the gas pipeline would be a good occasion for the visit,” Qazi added.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 31st, 2015.
Pakistan appealed to the international community on Friday to take sharp note of what it called ‘the terrorist activities’ of India’s far-right Shiv Sena in a move likely to exacerbate ties between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
Shiv Sena, an ally of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has been in the headlines in recent weeks for its anti-Pakistan rhetoric and activities. The group, which is notorious for violence, has targeted even high-profile visitors from Pakistan including former foreign minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri and Ghazal maestro Ghulam Ali, and more recently, forced the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to cancel talks with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to revive bilateral cricketing ties.
Four Shiv Sena members arrested for disrupting Pakistani play
“I agree with you that the international community should take note of the terrorist activities of this organisation. We have repeatedly expressed our concern on its activities,” replied Foreign Office spokesperson Qazi Khalilullah when asked whether the world should take notice of Shiv Sena’s hate politics.
Pakistan has condemned Shiv Sena’s activities in the past but this was for the first time it branded the Hindu extremist group a ‘terrorist outfit’.
Speaking at his weekly briefing, Qazi also expressed concerns over India’s ‘massive arms buildup’ through acquisition of modern weaponry. “The growing conventional asymmetry undermines regional stability and also negatively impacts the balance of strategic deterrence,” he argued.
After Shiv Sena ink attack, Kulkarni to visit Pakistan for Kasuri’s book launch
He added that Pakistan remained fully cognisant of evolving security dynamics in South Asia and, while adhering to the policy of avoiding an arms race, will take all measures to safeguard its national security.
Confirming that India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi telephoned Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to express condolences over the loss of lives in the recent earthquake in Pakistan, the spokesperson said such ‘good gestures’ were made in the past by both sides.
“However, this does not diminish the need to resolve outstanding disputes and issues including Kashmir through a sustained and resilient dialogue process between the two neighbors, as emphasised in the Pakistan-US Joint Statement issued during the recent visit of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to Washington,” Qazi said.
#ProfileForPeace defeats the mind games Shiv Sena tried to play by using Malala
Pakistan ready to join fight against IS
Asked whether Pakistan was ready to join US-led alliance against the Islamic State (IS), the spokesperson said a cooperative approach was required to deal with the menace.
“We support coordinated action by concerned countries in their own territory to deal with terrorism. We have extended this kind of cooperation to Afghanistan. We are cognizant of the threat posed by Daesh (IS) and have alerted our security agencies accordingly,” he said.
Govt to welcome Putin
Reacting to reports that Russia’s President Vladimir Putin may visit Pakistan for the ground breaking ceremony of a gas pipeline project, the spokesperson said Islamabad would welcome the visit.
Shiv Sena disrupts Pakistani play in India
“Pakistan and Russia enjoy friendly relations and cooperate in many fields. We want to enhance relations with Russia in all fields of mutual interest,” he said adding recently, the two countries have signed an agreement for a gas pipeline from the North to South. Russia would be investing US$ 2 billion for the construction of this pipeline.
“There have been a number of visits from Pakistan to Russia in the past at the head of state and government level. We would, therefore, welcome the visit of the Russian president to Pakistan. Ground-breaking ceremony of the gas pipeline would be a good occasion for the visit,” Qazi added.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 31st, 2015.