Pakistan warns India to refrain from provocative statements — Foreign Office

During the weekly media briefing in Islamabad, Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi strongly reacted to India’s recent aggressive statements and the tense situation in the region and said that the Indian Defence Minister’s statement on Sindh is tantamount to provocation, which Pakistan rejects. He clarified that such statements can endanger regional peace and India should refrain from adopting such hateful stances.

The spokesperson said that Pakistan wants a peaceful solution to all regional issues through dialogue, but India is continuously pursuing a policy of confrontation. He said that the latest report of UN experts has exposed serious human rights violations in occupied Kashmir, according to which about 2,800 Kashmiris are in Indian custody.

Discussing the Babri Masjid issue, he said that hoisting the temple flag in place of the historical place of worship is evidence of the narrow-mindedness of the Indian authorities, while the hateful actions against minorities, especially Muslims, in India are a cause of concern for the international community.

The spokesperson strongly condemned Israel’s attacks on Gaza, saying that the killing of unarmed civilians, especially women and children, is a grave violation of human rights.

Discussing the water issue, he said that India is not providing water data under the Indus Waters Treaty, which is a regrettable and serious violation. He warned that these behaviors of India indicate an attempt to use water as a “strategic weapon”.

Regarding the Pak-Iran gas pipeline, he expressed hope that the matter would be resolved amicably soon. Referring to Pakistan’s steps on Afghan refugees, he said that the country was strictly following a three-tier policy in this matter.

Rejecting Afghanistan’s claims of ISIS presence in Pakistan, Tahir Hussain Andrabi said that ISIS activities were limited to Afghanistan, and the allegations against Pakistan were against the facts.