Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office spokesman Nafees Zakaria on Thursday said India is issuing residence certificates to outsiders in Indian-held Kashmir (IHK) for changing demography, which is a sheer violation of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.

In a weekly media briefing, he said the settlement of outsiders in IHK is taking place with fast pace after the extra-judicial killing of Burhan Wani by the Indian occupation forces in IHK, which is complete violation of the UN Charter and International law on fundamental rights.

He said that more than 10,000 Kashmiri youth have been arrested during last five months and there is no news about them whether they have been tortured or buried in the similar mass graves that were discovered in 2009.

He said that after Wani’s killing over 150 Kashmiris were martyred by Indian occupied forces. Some 23,000 Kashmiris were injured and out of them more than 6,000 Kashmiris, including children have become the victims of pellet guns.

“We call upon the UN, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and High Commissioner for Human Rights and other such organizations to call India to account for its blatant violations of human rights,” he said.

To a question regarding Indian prime minister’s statement for disintegration of Pakistan, he said the interference by Indian state actors in Pakistan was a proven fact that India was involved in separation of Bangladesh. He said India was still involved in Pakistan and sponsoring subversive activities in Pakistan and the arrest of Indian spy Kulbhushan Yadev from Balochistan proved it.

To another question, he said that Foreign Affairs Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry would lead Pakistani delegation during talks with China and Russia, which are scheduled to be held in Moscow on December 27, where the issues relating to common concerns in the region and situation in Afghanistan will be discussed.

Zakaria said Pakistan wanted peace and stability in Afghanistan, which was in the favour of the entire region and Pakistan as well. For this purpose Pakistan would continue its efforts to bring various Afghan factions on negotiation table, he added.

To a question about the Pentagon report, Zakaria said Pakistan did not allow its territory to be misused against any other state. International community, especially the US, had acknowledged and recognised Pakistani actions against terrorists and sacrifices rendered by the security forces.

He said the PM concluded a three-day productive visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The PM’s visit has set an impetus and would provide a direction to enhance bilateral relations.

He said Naveed Baloch, a Pakistani, was arrested after the Berlin attack, but soon after interrogation, he was released by the German police as they found no proof against him. The Pakistani Embassy in Berlin is also in contact with the German authorities, he said. He said that around 728 Pakistanis were in Saudi jails on various charges and the Pakistani embassy not only facilitated them but also is in contact with the Saudis on the issue. Zakaria said that Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi completed his US visit, where he met Congressmen, government officials, think tanks and media. He said Pakistan strongly condemned Israel for constructing new settlements in Palestine.