Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office (FO) Spokesperson Nafees Zakaria has said that Jamaat-ul-Ahrar – a banned militant outfit – is launching terrorist attacks in Pakistan from sanctuaries in Afghanistan.

He said that Afghan government had been asked to take action against the banned outfit.

Responding to a question regarding Pak-Afghan border management, he said that both countries should address “cancers” regarding the border management. “There is a dire need to take strict measures for better Pak-Afghan border management,” said the spokesperson in a weekly media briefing here on Thursday.

Zakaria said Pakistan was aware of Indian plans to sabotage the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project. “Even Kulbhushan Yadav, an arrested Indian spy, had admitted to making attempts to sabotage the CPEC.”

Referring to India’s defence build-up, he said massive purchase of weapons by India could lead to instability in the region. He said that Pakistan had repeatedly lodged protests with India in this regard.

He added that India’s continued atrocities against defenceless Kashmiris in Held Kashmir (IKH) were highly condemnable and the international community should call India to account for its crimes against humanity. “Indian forces are repeatedly violating ceasefire violations on the Line of Control (LoC) and the Working Boundary (WB) to divert the world’s attention from the genocide and grave human rights violations against defenceless Kashmiris in the occupied valley.” When his attention was drawn towards Held Kashmir’s Chief Minister Mahbooba Mufti’s demand for opening Kargil-Ladakh Road and Siachen for tourism, he said, “Since I had not read the statement, I can’t comment on the issue.” He, however, said, “Elections in IHK are sham elections, and the government over there is also a sham government, which is in violation of those UNSC resolutions that clearly state that such elections in IHK cannot be a substitute to the plebiscite promised to the Kashmiri people under UN resolutions.” To another question, Zakaria said that the figure of 39,000 Pakistanis reportedly deported from Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was exaggerated by media. “Pakistan is in contact with Saudi authorities. Those repatriated to Pakistan were involved in violation of local laws,” he maintained.

Meanwhile, Pakistan has offered condolences on the sad demise of Juma-Al-Kaabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) ambassador to Afghanistan, who sustained serious injuries in a brutal terrorist attack in Kandahar in January 2017. “We are deeply saddened to learn about the passing away of the UAE’s ambassador to Afghanistan. The government and people of Pakistan convey their heartfelt condolences to the leadership and the people of the UAE and the family of the martyred ambassador,” said a Foreign Office statement on Thursday.

“Pakistan once again reiterates its strong condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and stands with the government and people of the UAE in this hour of immense grief,” the statement added.