Islamabad: The Foreign Office (FO) has lamented the deliberate creation of ‘war hysteria’ by Indian media following a militant attack on an Indian military camp in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IoK).
It strongly rejected allegations raised against Pakistan by Indian police and defence officials as well as media groups, in connection with the attack on Sunjwan camp in IoK.
In a press release issued on Thursday, FO spokesperson Muhammad Faisal said, “In a well established pattern, Indian occupation forces launch false flag operations, while Indian officials begin making irresponsible statements and leveling unfounded allegations, even before any proper investigation in any incident has been initiated.”
The FO said that a particular segment of the Indian media was running stories with a clear intention to malign Pakistan and whip up public frenzy.
“We are confident that the world community will take due cognisance of India’s smear campaign,” the FO spokesperson remarked.
He said such tactics are aimed at diverting attention from the India’s state terrorism in IoK. “The brutalisation of peaceful and unarmed Kashmiris through harassment, incarceration, disappearances, torture, extra-judicial killings, sham trials and summary executions is well documented internationally,” he said, adding that the valiant people of IoK remained resilient in the face of all these hardships, as they pursued their legitimate right to self-determination.
The FO said Pakistan was fully committed and capable of defending itself against any act of aggression.
Separately, it expressed sadness at the tragic crash of a Russian passenger aircraft, resulting in the loss of 71 lives. “We convey our deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. The people and the government of Pakistan share the pain of the people and the government of the Russian Federation and stand by them in this hour of grief,” the FO spokesperson said.
Commenting on the political crisis in the Maldives, Faisal said, “Pakistan does not support any move by foreign states to interfere in the internal affairs of the Maldives and influence its upcoming elections. As enshrined in the UN Charter, non-interference in the domestic affairs of other countries has always been the key principle of our foreign policy.”
Published in Daily Times, February 16th 2018.
