ISLAMABAD: Pakistan took a cautious approach on the demilitarization of the Siachen Glacier as Islamabad did not out-rightly rejected the India’s proposal nor accepted it.
“Pakistan was committed to improve relations with India and have a dialogue which is meaningful, constructive, result-oriented and sustained”, said a spokesperson of the Foreign Office, during the weekly media briefing.
The spokesperson went on to say that on multiple occasions, the prime minister and the foreign minister have expressed our position on this matter (dialogue). “But India has vitiated the environment — the conditions are not there. We have repeatedly said that onus lies on India to take necessary steps for an environment conducive for constructive dialogue,” he added.
He was asked about Pakistan’s reaction on any possibility of India’s demilitarization of the Siachin Glacier. Recently, Indian Army chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane had said that India was not averse to the possible demilitarization of the Siachen Glacier provided Pakistan accepted the 110-km Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL) that separates Indian and Pakistani positions.
“Pakistan has a policy, which is derived from the principle of friendly neighborhood. We want peace and friendship in our neigborhood, good relations with all including India,” the spokes-person said.
“But you have seen how the developments have unfolded in our region; you have witnessed the very hostile Indian attitude especially during the last a couple of years and since the illegal and unilateral actions of August 5, 2019 in IIOJ&K, the situation has further deteriorated and in this context we have to see how we can move forward,” added the spokesperson.
In his opening statement, the spokesman said it is encouraging that the international community is increasingly realizing the gravity of the situation in IIOJ&K towards which Pakistan has been drawing attention all these years.
“You would have followed example the Russell Tribunal on Kashmir held in Sarajevo last month, and the filing earlier this week of an application by a London-based law firm with the British Police seeking arrest of Indian officials over their alleged role in war crimes in IIOJ&K,” he opined.
Reportedly, the law firm has submitted report based on over 2,000 testimonies taken between 2020 and 2021, providing extensive evidence to the Metropolitan Police’s War Crimes Unit documenting how Indian military and civil leadership were responsible for the torture, kidnapping and killing of activists, journalists and civilians.
“It is self-evident that India can no longer escape international and legal censure for its rampant human rights violations in IIOJ&K, and we call upon the international community, particularly the United Nations and international human rights and humanitarian organizations to hold India accountable”, said the spokes-person.
He added that the world needs to do more because the kind of reaction and response that is there is not enough, and that is why Pakistan continues to raise its voice and mobilize international opinion and support for the Kashmiri people.
Regarding the latest position on the Indian request to send wheat assistance to Afghanistan through the land route of the Wagah Border, the spokes-person responded, “As you would recall Pakistan has allowed on humanitarian grounds on exceptional basis.
We have conveyed to the Indian side, necessary details of arrangements put in place by Pakistan, and for about 3 weeks now, are awaiting further response from India about the date of dispatch and other information regarding the first consignment”, he added.
Turning to Afghanistan and the issue of Pakistan recognizing Kabul, the FO spokes-person said this was an important issue and has been discussed and deliberated by many countries.
“There are obviously diverse views about it, as there are diverse expectations as well. There is also a priority attached to the immediate concerns such as the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan that requires consistent engagement. We think the best way of doing this is in consultation and coordination with the neighboring countries and others in the international community. We are of the view that a broader approach on this is going to be useful,” he said.
Turning to the problems Pakistani students are facing while being unable to return to China to continue their studies, the spokes-person said this issue has been discussed between both countries on several occasions.
A list of 492 students has been shared with the Chinese Embassy with the request to treat them as first priority for return to China.
Read more: ICC T20 World Cup: Pakistan to take on arch-rivals India on October 23 in Australia
