Pakistan condemns Indian bids to ruin diplomatic relations

WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES: Pakistan regretted Indian designs to scurry diplomatic efforts for two-sided and international dialogue and its threat to use water as a weapon against people of Pakistan, a clear breach of global treaty obligations.

During an address at the World Affairs Council, a think-tank based in Washington on Thursday night, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Jalil Abbas Jilani called on the United States and the western countries to help resolve the Kashmir dispute and prevent New Delhi from deflecting world from its atrocities in the Himalayan valley.

Jilani felt sorry how India was scuttling all diplomatic efforts for a dialogue, including a chance to engage constructively at the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) summit.

“The peace and stability in South Asia will not be possible without resolving underlying disputes, particularly the Jammu and Kashmir being the core dispute; measures for nuclear and missile restraint; and balance with regard to conventional arms,” he said.

“Pakistan’s proposal for a strategic restraint regime, based on these three inter-locking elements, remains on the table,” the ambassador said while drawing the attention towards Pakistan’s will for peace in the region.

On the dispute of Kashmir, Ambassador Jilani said the valley as a nuclear flashpoint must not be underestimated.

“The international community and the US in particular need to play a role in seeking a peaceful settlement of Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan, in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.”

He added the recent uprising in Kashmir represents wishes of the Kashmiri people to remain an independent state and stressed that India must not be allowed to conduct human rights violations and atrocities in the held Kashmir.

Highlighting Pakistan’s role as a frontline state in the global war against terrorism, the Ambassador said tens of thousands of Pakistani people had been killed or injured in terror-linked attacks.

He said, Pakistan had suffered losses of over $100 billion, adding that Pakistan’s commitment to fight terrorism was second to none.

Referring to Afghanistan, the ambassador said peace and stability in the war-torn country remained an objective of Pakistan and the US.

“Pakistan has long proposed this as the most viable course to end decades of conflict and suffering in Afghanistan,” Jilani said.

“We believe that peace in Afghanistan can be secured and assured only when the Afghan parties themselves conclude that there is no military solution to the Afghan war.”