ISLAMABAD – Pakistan on Thursday reminded the Indian government of itsresponsibility to take serious and credible steps to bring the perpetratorsof Samjhauta Express blasts to justice without further delay.
Foreign Office Spokesperson Aisha Farooqui, in her weekly press briefing,said the last year’s acquittal of the self-confessed mastermind of theblasts, Swami Aseemanand, and other accused only reconfirmed the culture ofimpunity that the perpetrators of terrorist attacks enjoyed under theRashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) / Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ledpolitical dispensation in India.
She said as the current week reminded the painful tragedy of SamjhautaExpress Train occurred 13 years ago, the families and the loved ones of the68 victims of that terrorist attack, including 40 Pakistanis, still awaitedjustice.
“The inordinate delay in justice for these victims, despite theavailability of evidence, illustrates the unwillingness of the Indiangovernment to hold the perpetrators to account for their barbaric action,”she commented.
Regarding the human rights situation in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir(IOJ&K), the spokesperson said on the 200th day of the lockdown onThursday, the people in the IOJ&K continued to be deprived of theirfundamental freedoms; their right to liberty, health, education and food aswell as faced continued restrictions on their freedom of expression,freedom of assembly and freedom of religion.
Referring to the visit and press briefing by Chairperson of the All PartyParliamentary Group on Kashmir in the British Parliament Debbie Abrahms MPon Wednesday, she said the UK parliamentarians had spoken up against thehuman rights violations in the IOJ&K.
Gving an overview of the three-day visit of United NationsSecretary-General (UNSG) Antonio Guterres to Pakistan, she said he hadexpressed “deep concern at the increase in tensions since last year” andstressed that the solution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute lay inaccordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the resolutions ofthe Security Council.
“The unequivocal statement by UNSG serves to put to rest any confusion inany quarter, pertaining to the international status of the Jammu andKashmir dispute and the need to resolve it in accordance with the UNSCresolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people,” she remarked.
The UNSG appreciated Pakistan’s role in the Afghan peace process,extraordinary generosity and solidarity towards Afghan refugees and itscontribution to peacekeeping missions.
While visiting the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor, the UNSG called it “a welcomesymbol of interfaith harmony, a unique experiment in cross-border ties,showing Pakistan’s commitment to peace.”
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To a question, the spokesperson said Pakistan was keen to see the peaceprocess move forward and lead towards an intra-Afghan dialogue.
She also rejected the impression being created by social media about anycampaign by the Saudi government to detain and repatriate Pakistaninationals, saying every year, before the month of Ramazan, the Saudiauthorities routinely carried out an exercise against the illegalexpatriates and illegal workers especially in the Makkah region.
“The assumption that it is a Pakistan-specific drive is completelyincorrect. The campaign is not Pakistan-specific; Saudi authorities havearrested nationals of several countries as part of this drive,” she added.
To a question about the plight of Pakistani students living in thecoronavirus-hit Wuhan city of China, she said a two-member team of PakistanEmbassy had visited the city to evaluate the situation and would remaindeployed there until the quarantine was lifted.
“Their mandate is to make sure that all needs of our students are addressedand provided to them. Their safety, well-being and health will beconstantly monitored and ensured in close coordination/consultation withthe respective university administration and Chinese authorities,” sheremarked.
About a letter written by four US Senators to Secretary of State MickPompeo expressing concerns about the Kashmir situation, she said Pakistanwelcomed the latter that was yet another voice in that growinginternational call on the government of India to abide by internationallaw, human rights conventions.
“We hope that during the US president’s visit to India the issues beingfaced by the people of Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir will be raised withthe Indian government and the offer of mediation expressed by the USpresident is taken forward through some concrete practical step,” she added.
