Aziz says India got no moral ground to talk about counter-terrorism

ISLAMABAD: Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said India has no moral ground to even talk about counter-terrorism efforts let alone accusing others as terror financing by India on Pakistani soil was proven unquestionably.

“Pakistan is a victim of Indian interference and subversive activities, which are aimed at destabilising Pakistan,” Aziz said in reply to to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s allegations at BIRCS against Pakistan.

“Mr Modi is misleading his BRICS and BIMSTEC colleagues. The Indian leadership is desperately trying to hide its brutalities in the Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir, an internationally recognized dispute on the UNSC agenda, where innocent people are being killed and injured by the occupation forces daily with impunity,” he said.

Aziz called upon the BRICS Leaders to force India to halt killing Kashmiris, release civilians and Kashmiri leaders immediately.

The adviser said Kashmiri people were being subjected to violence and genocide by India for demanding their basic right to self-determination, as promised by the United Nations (UN) Security Council.

He said the ongoing Indian brutalities in the held Kashmir for some 100 days had taken a toll on the lives of over 150 innocent and powerless Kashmiris, including children and women, and on around 15,000, which has attracted a global focus.

Aziz said the UN Human Rights High Commissioner in Geneva and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Secretary General, OIC Contact Group on Kashmir and OIC Independent Human Rights Commission have called for sending a fact finding mission to IOK.

“The UN and OIC have rejected Indian attempts to equate Kashmiris’ movement for self-determination with terrorism. The UN has repeatedly emphasised that people fighting for their self-determination cannot be categorised as terrorists by the occupying state,” he added.

“Pakistan’s sacrifices in the war against terrorism are well acknowledged and repeatedly appreciated by the leadership of most countries in the world. The Armed Forces of Pakistan and other law enforcement agencies have rendered ultimate sacrifices. Pakistan has also suffered hugely in terms of economic losses in the fight against terrorism,” the adviser remarked.

Unfortunately, in complete disrespect of international law and the UN Charter, Modi government was pursuing its hegemonic designs.

“These designs are a threat to international peace and security and may lead to a strategic miscalculation. The international community has witnessed the provocative statements from the Indian side, including ceasefire violations on the Line of Control (LoC),” he maintained.