ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office has strongly regretted the Indian DefenceMinister’s recent provocative statement against Pakistan.
In a statement, the Foreign Office Spokesperson, Dr Muhammad Faisal saidthe Indian allegations about the recent attack on military camp in OccupiedKashmir are premature and inopportune, especially as New Delhi itselfadmits that the operation still continued and investigations had juststarted, when these comments were made.
He said the Indian tendency of apportioning blame to Pakistan, without ashred of evidence, is regrettable.
We have repeatedly seen India arrogating to itself the role of judge, juryand executioner. The reflex assignment of blame and smear campaigns, basedon unfounded allegations, carry no credibility.
The spokesperson said more deplorable is the threatening tone of the Indiancomments that achieves nothing, but further vitiates the already tenseenvironment marked by unprecedented ceasefire violations by India on theLine of Control and the Working Boundary.
He said Pakistan is fully committed and capable of defending itself againstany act of aggression.
We expect the international community to take cognizance of the belligerentand repeated Indian statements against Pakistan, which are not only againstinternational law but also threatens regional peace and stability.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has termed unfound Indian allegations about Pakistanrefusing visas to 173 Katas Raj pilgrims.
Responding to a query Foreign Office spokesman underscored that Pakistanhad made all the arrangements for the visit of the pilgrims. However, theapplicants were forced to withdraw their applications from the PakistanHigh Commission in New Delhi due to non – issuance of NOC by IndianMinistry of External Affairs.
He pointed out that recently, India also denied the visits of Sikhpilgrims, followed by that of Zaireens from Pakistan, and now Katas RajPilgrims, the opportunity to participate in their religious festivals.
The spokesman said Indian actions run counter to the letter and spirit ofthe 1974 Pakistan-India Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines and anobstruction for the people to people contacts.
Such steps violate the basic human right to religious freedoms and areindicative of the escalatory ladder on which India has embarked.
He said these are against the spirit of peace and tranquility that Pakistanhas been trying to promote.