- FO spokesperson says current Indian dispensation is ‘bent on weaponising water’
- Says India’s jingoism and war hysteria should be a source of serious concern for world
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry on Friday blamed India’s reckless conduct has brought the two nuclear-armed states closer to a major conflict, saying India’s violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty and strikes inside the country have endangered the regional peace and stability, the state media reported.
At his weekly media briefing in Islamabad on Friday, Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said India has been violating Pakistan’s sovereignty since 7th of this month and condemnably, the Indian strikes against Pakistan have endangered the regional peace and stability.
“It is most unfortunate that India’s reckless conduct has brought the two nuclear-armed states closer to a major conflict,” Khan said.
“India’s jingoism and war hysteria should be a source of serious concern for the world.”
The FO Spokesperson stated that the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) had been a successful water-sharing arrangement between India and Pakistan, withstanding the test of wars and standoffs.
“However, the current Indian dispensation is bent on weaponising water … holding in abeyance of the Indus Water Treaty is unilateral and illegal, there are no such provisions in the treaty.”
“This action shows India’s blatant disregard for international treaties and sets a dangerous precedent,” the spokesperson said, adding that the Indian decision was an attack on the people of Pakistan and its economy.
For Pakistan, the ambassador stressed, the Indian announcement held no legal consequence. “The treaty remains in force and fully binding on the parties.”
“The Indian allegation of Pakistan’s refusal to enter into government to government negotiations is also incorrect … Pakistan has been continuously engaged with India on the subject,” he added.
‘Indian claims of targetting terrorist infrastructure are false’
The FO spokesperson termed Indian claims of targetting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan false, saying that it was a matter on record that the Indian strikes resulted in the killing of civilians, including women and children.
“It is a matter of public knowledge that some mosques were also destroyed or damaged during the Indian aggression. Similarly, parts of the Neelum-Jhelum hydro-electric project were damaged due to Indian shelling, which is interalia a violation of international conventions,” he said, demanding that India must be held accountable for these crimes.
At the briefing, Ambassador Khan expressed Pakistan’s amazement at India for the importance its government attaches to “anonymous and dubious social media post upon which it has built the case for the resistance front’s involvement in the Pahalgam attack”.
“Can any country in the world be allowed to attack another country on the basis of few social media posts?” he asked, adding that India was attempting to act as the jury, judge and executioner.
“Third, the investigations in Bombay and Pathankot could not make progress due to India’s non-cooperative attitude for past several years,” the spokesperson said.
He added that India, while attempting to portray itself as a victim of terror, “conveniently ignores its own role in planning, sponsoring and abetting terrorism in Pakistan”. “It is no secret that India’s network of targetted assassination and other subversive activities has gone global,” he said, giving the example of Kulbhushan Jadhav’s case.
