Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office Spokesman Nafees Zakaria on Thursday said Pakistan has adopted a policy of peace towards its neighbours, but India is not positively responding.

He expressed these views during a weekly media briefing at the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Zakaria said Pakistan wanted to enhance cooperation and regional connectivity, but India is violating human rights in Indian-held Kashmir (IHK).

He said that Indian occupied forces were involved in worst brutalities in IHK. During the last one week, Indian occupation forces used brute force on peaceful protesters in IHK which resulted in injuries to several hundred Kashmiris, including over two dozen journalists.

He said that continued confinement of Kashmiri leaders and inhuman treatment meted out to them is condemnable. He said the terrorist organisations such as RSS, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Shiv Sena and Bajrang Dal are engaged in the drive to change the demography in IHK and they are supported by the Indian occupied forces, which is a blatant violation of UN Security Council’s resolutions on Kashmir and fundamental human rights.

“We condemn unabated violation of UNSC Resolutions on Kashmir by India,” he added.

He said the inauguration of Chashma-III nuclear power plant is yet another important landmark in Pakistan’s drive towards meeting country’s ever growing energy demand and further strengthening of China-Pakistan friendship. He said that 6th meeting of the Joint Cooperation Committee on CPEC is being held in Beijing.

To a question, he said India is violating UN Security Council resolutions and UN Charter and it should not be given the membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

“We constantly adopted policy that membership in NSG should be given on non-discriminatory criteria basis,” he said.

He said that some countries are supporting India’s membership in NSG and others are also supporting Pakistan’s point of view.

Zakaria said Moscow moot on Afghanistan comprising Russia, China and Pakistan discussed common concerns in the region and Afghanistan. In the next meeting, Afghanistan would also be invited. He said the meeting showed its concerns on the presence of terrorist outfit Daesh in the region.

He said Pakistan wants peace and stability in Afghanistan, which is in the favour of the entire region and Pakistan as well. For this purpose, Zakaria added, Pakistan would continue its efforts to bring various Afghan factions to negotiating table.

Zakaria also talked about Pakistan’s grant of $500 million to the people of Afghanistan last year.

The FO spokesman said Pakistan is supporting UNSC resolutions against settlements in Palestine. Pakistan is against the Israeli settlements for demographical changes and wants to see amicable solution of the Palestine issue.

He said the media reported about an Iranian merchant ship, MV Joya, with Pakistani crew on board came under attack in Yemeni waters. Pakistani diplomatic missions made their efforts to verify the news but the occurrence of the incident could not be established, he added.

“We also approached the Yemeni Embassy but they could not confirm it too. We noted that there had been no official or unofficial statement from Iran as well,” he added.

He said the journalist who initially broke the news later said that the news could not be confirmed. Zakaria congratulated Dr Rashid Chotani on winning the United States of America’s ‘Scientific Achievement Award 2016’.