Islamabad and its jehadi cohorts ratcheted up anti-India rhetoric on Pakistan Day on Thursday, prompting a strong reaction from the Indian Government which said that the only issue of dispute as far as Jammu & Kashmir was concerned was Pakistan’s illegal occupation of Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Earlier, the Pakistani side launched a calibrated anti-India campaign spearheaded by Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain, Pakistan High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit, and a new jehadi front floated by terror mastermind Hafiz Saeed.
In Islamabad, raking up the Kashmir issue as an “unfinished agenda” of the Partition, Mamnoon Hussain accused India of “jeopardising” regional peace through “consistent” ceasefire violations.
Speaking at the annual Republic Day military parade attended for the first time by troops from China and Saudi Arabia, Hussain said, “Pakistan is ready for dialogue with India and wants resolution of the Kashmir dispute, which is the unfinished agenda of the Partition.”
“We want peace and friendship with the whole world, specially our neighbours. But India’s irresponsible attitude and consistent violations of the line of Control and Working Boundary have jeopardised peace in the region,” he said at the parade during which Pakistan’s indigenously-developed missiles and air-defence systems were showcased.
On the other hand, at a Pakistan Day event in New Delhi, Abdul Basit said his Government supports Kashmiri separatists while terming their activities as a struggle for freedom. He added Pakistan favours resolution of the Kashmir dispute as per the “aspirations of Kashmiris”.
Reacting strongly to Basit’s statement Union Minister Jitendra Singh reiterated India’s demand that Pakistan should vacate illegal occupation of POK and Gilgit-Baltistan.
“The only issue of dispute between India and Pakistan as far as Jammu & Kashmir is concerned is the illegal occupation of POK and Gilgit-Baltistan by Pakistan,” he said.
Taking up the issue, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Gopal Baglay said the envoy’s remarks were not in keeping with diplomatic niceties and amount to interference in India’s internal affairs.
“We have seen media reports about Pakistan High Commissioner’s remarks today regarding the Indian State of Jammu & Kashmir. They are not in keeping with diplomatic niceties and tantamount to interference in our internal affairs. Pakistan would be well-advised to effectively address the challenge of terrorism emanating from that country, which has adversely affected peace and stability in the entire neighbourhood as well as Pakistan’s relations with other countries,” Baglay said.
While raising the Kashmir issue once again, Basit termed it as an unresolved dispute between India and Pakistan. At the same time, he also expressed Islamabad’s desire to have good relations with India.
“The issue of Jammu & Kashmir must be resolved as per aspirations of Kashmiris. We hope that we will be able to solve our differences and issues, especially the Kashmir issue.” Basit said.
The Pakistani envoy extended support for Kashmiri separatists, saying their struggle is for freedom. “Struggle for freedom of Kashmiri people will one day succeed by the grace of God,” he added.
In Islamabad, Mamnoon Hussain said that Pakistan was ready to hold talks with India on all issues, including Kashmir.
In lahore, Hafiz Saeed’s newly-floated terror outfit Tehreek-e-Azadi Jammu Kashmir staged a huge rally on Pakistan Resolution Day. The rally started on the Mall Road of lahore and was attended by members of Jamat-ud-Dawa including its senior leaders. The JuD members reportedly raised anti-India slogans and delivered anti-India speeches.