Pakistan worried over lack of medical aid in held Kashmir

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has expressed deep concern over the lack of medical supplies and assistance in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir to deal with coronavirus challenge.

In her opening statement at the weekly news briefing on Thursday, Foreign Office Spokesperson Aisha Farooqui pointed out that 170 coronavirus cases had been reported in the occupied territory along with the death of five people from the virus. She said voices from within India and around the world continued to condemn the inhuman oppression of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. She said six international human rights organisations demanded release of all those arrested in occupied Jammu and Kashmir underscoring that measures to combat coronavirus must respect human rights of every individual.

The spokesperson strongly condemned the latest Indian action to change the demographic structure of the occupied Jammu and Kashmir, saying this was in violation of international laws and the UN Security Council resolutions.

Farooqui rejected Indian media reports seeking to link Pakistan with the terrorist attack on a Gurdwara in Kabul, saying: “Pakistan has suffered the most and has fought resolutely against the scourge of terrorism including state sponsored terrorism emanating from across the border”.

She said Pakistan firmly believed that such despicable terrorist acts had no political, religious or moral justification.

“We are very well aware of India’s continuous smear campaign against us but are confident that these tactics will not succeed in misleading the world community.”

The spokesperson further said Pakistan had decided to facilitate movement of cargo trucks and containers to cross over into Afghanistan through Torkham and Chaman border crossing points thrice a week from Friday onwards.

Farooqui said a comprehensive and phased plan for repatriation of Pakistani nationals from different countries had been made. Under the plan, 101 nationals returned from UAE, 40 from Doha, 170 from Bangkok, 194 from Istanbul, 128 from Tashkent, three from Tajikstan and 136 from Baghdad had been repatriated safely through special flights operated by PIA, she added.

She said plans for repatriation of Pakistani nationals from other destinations were also under active consideration.