ISLAMABAD – Foreign Office Spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan on Friday rejected and condemned the Indian Defence Minister’s provocative remarks, entailing a threat of Indian aggression against Pakistan.
Replying to a question at his weekly media briefing in Islamabad, he said such reckless statements reflect India’s hegemonic mindset. He said India’s belligerent posture poses a great risk to regional peace and stability in South Asia.The Spokesperson said Pakistan wishes to remind India of the consequences of its military aggression in May last year, when Pakistan demonstrated both its capability and resolve to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity and gave a befitting response and reply to the Indian aggression.
Sajjad Haider Khan made it clear that Pakistan remains fully prepared to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity against any ill-advised aggression. He said Pakistan’s restraint and commitment to peace must never be mistaken for weakness, adding that any aggression would be met with a forceful response.The Spokesperson said India should learn from last year’s experience, abandon its belligerent posture and dangerous rhetoric, and act responsibly to ensure lasting peace in the region.
Indian minister Singh on Thursday had warned Pakistan that any fresh terrorist activity from across the border would invite a strike even bigger than the last time, according to Indian media.
Replying to another question, he said Indian actions of 5th August 2019, dividing the Jammu and Kashmir region in parts, are illegal and void. He said these actions cannot alter the fact that Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally recognized disputed territory. Its final status has to be determined in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and as per the wishes of the Kashmiri people. Turning to Houthi militia attacks on Saudi Arabia, the Spokesperson said Pakistan strongly condemns the latest terrorist attack by the Houthi militia targeting the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.Also, Pakistan on Friday strongly condemned the latest Houthi attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and reaffirmed its commitment to Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and security, including under the Makkah Agreement for Joint Defence.
Spokesperson Ambassador Sajjad Haider Khan said Pakistan remained deeply concerned over the continuing attacks against the Kingdom.
“Pakistan strongly condemns the latest terrorist attack by the Houthi militia,” the spokesperson said, extending condolences to the bereaved families and sympathies to the injured. He said attacks on civilian populations and critical infrastructure were unacceptable and posed a grave threat to regional peace and security.The spokesperson noted that on October 11, Pakistan joined Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey in a joint statement under the R4 group framework, condemning the Houthi attacks. The four countries expressed solidarity with Riyadh, supported its legitimate measures to protect its territory and population, and called for an immediate and unconditional end to the attacks.
The spokesperson said a Pakistani national was killed and others were injured in the attack on Riyadh airport. He added that a Pakistani driver was killed in Yemen last week.Pakistan, he said, is a member of the Makkah Agreement for Joint Defence and is fully on board. It will fulfil its obligations under the pact, and Saudi Arabia has the right to defend itself and its sovereignty. He said Pakistan is in full agreement with Saudi Arabia and Turkey on the agreement.
Asked about a possible military response under the agreement, the spokesperson said such matters fall within the domain of the security institutions. On the practical aspects of the pact, he said the ISPR and the headquarters established in Riyadh would be better placed to provide guidance.
On Yemen, he said Pakistan’s position was consistent and clear: the conflict can only be resolved through dialogue. Pakistan wants regional disputes resolved peacefully.
On the Palestinian issue, the spokesperson said Pakistan joined the foreign ministers of 18 other countries in condemning Colombia’s inauguration of its embassy in Jerusalem. The move, he said, was contrary to relevant UN Security Council resolutions and detrimental to the two-state solution.
He said Pakistan would continue to support the Palestinian people and an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders. Pakistan also condemned obstacles placed in the way of Palestinians returning to their homeland and supported their inalienable right to self-determination.
On bilateral engagements, the spokesperson said Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamoud Al-Busaidi visited Pakistan from October 13 to 14 at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar.
The two ministers co-chaired the eighth session of the Pakistan-Oman Joint Ministerial Commission and agreed to enhance cooperation in trade, investment, energy, maritime connectivity, information technology, workforce mobility and other sectors. Five agreements and MoUs were signed, along with a protocol recording the commission’s proceedings, he added.
Responding to questions, the spokesperson said terrorist attacks in Pakistan, including in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, originate from Afghan soil, and that Indian proxies are involved. He said Pakistan faces a major terrorism challenge and is in contact with the international community, friendly countries and multilateral forums on the issue.
Pakistan wants an assurance that Afghan territory will not be used against it, he said, but Kabul is not ready to give one. Pakistan’s single demand is that anti-Pakistan activity from Afghan soil be verifiably stopped, and talks with Afghanistan cannot be unconditional. He said Pakistan is not wary of talking to Afghan representatives and wants security and stability in Afghanistan.
He said Pakistan would welcome any positive effort by friendly countries on Afghanistan. Pakistan’s special representative for Afghanistan was recently in Moscow, and Pakistan values contacts with Russia on Afghanistan and regional security, but is not aware of any formal Russian mediation effort. Asked about Murad Saeed, he said he had no information about his presence in Afghanistan.
