Pakistan raises serious concerns over rising hindutva in India
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Pakistan has expressed serious concerns over the rise of extremist nationalism in India and its expansionist designs for the South Asia region, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch at a weekly news briefing in Islamabad on Thursday said “We still await condemnation from the Indian leadership on the recent call for violence and assassination by a BJP leader from Bhagpat.”
In response to a question about the clashes between the security forces of Pakistan and Afghanistan in Chaman-Spin Boldak border region, the Foreign Office spokesperson said “We have agreed to continue established institutional mechanism with Afghanistan to prevent such incidents.”
She further said Pakistan is in constant touch with the interim government of Afghanistan regarding the resurgence of terrorist incidents and cross-border violence, adding Pakistan had reiterated to the Afghan authorities that the protection of civilians was the responsibility of both sides.
“Pakistan remains committed to maintaining its fraternal relations with Afghanistan and ensuring that peace is maintained,” she said, mentioning that Pakistan continued to engage with international players including the neighbouring Afghanistan to ensure that the terrorism emanating from Afghan soil could not affect it.
She hoped that the Afghan authorities would work towards fulfilling the commitments made to Pakistan to not allow their territory to be used against its neighbour.
Asked if Pakistan was using China’s leverage to counter Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in the backdrop of the country’s engagement with Afghanistan, Mumtaz Baloch said Pakistan and China were close strategic partners and “We consult each other on all matters of interest including counter-terrorism and on the situation in Afghanistan.”
To a question about the number of foreign visits by Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto after assuming office, she shared a list of the countries as — Saudi Arabia (twice), United Arab Emirates (twice), United States (thrice), China (twice), Switzerland, Iran, Uzbekistan (twice), Cambodia, Uzbekistan, Germany, Egypt, Indonesia and Singapore.
In response to the delay in disbursement of salaries to Pakistan’s missions abroad, the spokesperson said the process had been restored that faced suspension due to a “very complicated” issue pertaining to the Ministry of Finance, the State Bank, and the international channels. “Soon all the missions will have their requisite funds,” she said.
Asked about the update on the status of Indian serving Navy Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav who is serving a death sentence in Pakistan, she said, “There is no change in the status.”
This week, the spokesperson said, Pakistan would host Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Serik Zhumangarin, who will lead a high-level delegation for the Pakistan-Kazakhstan Intergovernmental Joint Commission (IJC) – an important mechanism to promote mutually beneficial cooperation.
