Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office on Thursday summoned Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale following unprovoked firing by India in which two Pakistani soldiers embraced martyrdom.

Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry strongly rejected the baseless Indian claim regarding the so-called surgical strikes. He handed over a protest note to the Indian high commissioner.

He noted that India has deliberately escalated tension at the LoC to divert the international community’s attention from the grave situation in the Indian-held Kashmir (IHK).

The secretary condemned India’s baseless accusation against Pakistan for the Uri attack. He recalled that it has been a practice in India to blame Pakistan for every such incident but later investigations prove otherwise.

Chaudhry said Pakistan remained a victim of interference and Indian state-sponsored terrorism. In this regard, he referred to the confessional statement of serving Indian Naval Officer Kulbhushan Yadev, who had been carrying out terrorist and subversive activities in Pakistan, especially in Balochistan and Karachi.

The secretary also expressed Pakistan’s deep disappointment on the Indian decision not to participate in the SAARC summit. For its part, Pakistan is committed to the objective of regional cooperation, envisaged in the SAARC Charter.

The secretary also conveyed Pakistan’s deep concerns over life threats to Pakistan’s high commissioner in New Delhi and urged the Indian government to ensure the safety and security of Pakistan’s high commissioner, other officials and their families, in accordance with the Vienna Convention.