ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Foreign Office on Thursday rejected outright remarks made by the Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, regarding Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) during a session at the Chatham House in London, saying they were “baseless claims”.
“We reject the remarks made by the Indian external affairs minister on Jammu and Kashmir during an event held at the Chatham House, London, on 5th March 2025. With regards to this unfortunate and regrettable statement, we are witnessing an alarming increase in provocative statements from different Indian leaders asserting unwarranted claims over Azad Jammu and Kashmir, however, historical facts, legal principles, moral considerations and ground realities all refute these fictitious claims,” the spokesperson at the Foreign Office commented during the weekly media briefing.
To a query by a journalist about the possibility of Prime Minister Modi agreeing to President Trump intervening on to solve the issue of AJK, Jaishankar said that the Kashmir dispute would be solved after the “return of the stolen part of Kashmir which is under illegal Pakistani occupation. When that’s done, I assure you, Kashmir [issue is] solved.”
The spokesman said “Jammu and Kashmir as an internationally recognized disputed territory and the relevant UN Security Council resolutions clearly stipulate that its final status shall be determined by the will of its people through a free and impartial plebiscite under UN auspices. The Indian leaders would be wise to help implement these resolutions instead of harboring delusions of grandeur. Instead of making baseless claims about Azad Jammu and Kashmir, India should vacate the large territories of Jammu and Kashmir under its occupation from the last 77 years,” he added.
Responding to the Indian minister’s claims about the elections held in IoK last year, the FO spokesperson said: “We also wish to underscore that any electoral exercise pursuant to the Indian constitution cannot serve as a substitute to grant of right to self-determination. Similarly, the decades-old grievances of the Kashmiri people cannot be meaningfully addressed through economic activity down the barrel of a gun,” he said.
Earlier, the Chief Minister IIOJK, Omar Abdullah, asked why Jaishankar was not asking China to vacate a part of this territory. To a query regarding India’s decision to allot land in IIOJK to foreign businessmen, the spokesman responded, “This is part of the draconian illegal measures being taken by the Indian occupation authorities. We outrightly condemn it. This is just one segment of the overall regime of repression and oppression perpetrated by India in the Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir. We condemn it”.
Meanwhile, Pakistan said that the arrest of high-profile Afghan terrorist Sharifullah was an “important development” which took place in Pakistan, as a result of longstanding intelligence cooperation between Pakistan and the United States. To several queries on the subject, the spokesperson said that it was the Ministry of Interior which should be approached for details, however, the new offers from the US side (US NSA), the intelligence cooperation had been ongoing and this it was not the first time that a joint activity has been carried out by both countries. “The Foreign Ministry doesn’t comment on the specifics of intelligence cooperation. Broadly speaking, the prime minister’s tweet regarding the handing over of Sharifullah to the American authorities is very comprehensive,” he said.
He pointed out that Pakistani law enforcement agencies, their efforts against terrorists, including against ISKP, have resulted in significant successes, including the arrest of Sharifullah. And pursuant to UN Security Council resolutions 1267 and 1373, Pakistan collaborated with the US. “Pakistan has a policy of zero tolerance against terrorism. About the question on law, I would refer you to the Ministry of Interior for the details as there are certain legal procedures involved, which have been followed in this entire process.” Regarding the question about his (Sharifullah) specific role in the attack, he said he didn’t have information about operational intelligence matters.
On President Trump’s remarks on the Bagram Base, the spokesperson said that this was essentially between the United States and Afghanistan, two sovereign states. Asked if there was any head money for Sharifullah, the spokesperson replied, “This is, again, speculative. I don’t have information about the head money,” he said. The issue of weapons left behind by the US in Afghanistan was discussed in the phone call between the US NSA and the foreign minister, in which Ishaq Dar welcomed these statements by Washington that they want their weapons back.
“USA left its weapons there. We have supported the idea that the US can try to get its weapons back. Our concern is that those weapons have been found being used by terrorists in their operations inside Pakistan. We have flagged it. If the US can make any efforts to get those weapons back, it would be helpful for the overall regional security environment,” he said.
He added that the security cooperation with the US has been an ongoing process. “Security, counter-terrorism and intelligence cooperation is ongoing. There was not any hiatus which would need to restart because of a particular event,” he said.
On the stalemate at the Torkham border where crossings remain closed, he said this was not a unilateral action taken by Pakistan. “For the past couple of days, the Afghan side has carried out an illegal and unilateral construction activity within the Pakistani territory at two points along the Pakistan border. Despite these provocations, Pakistan has shown restraint and requested border flag meetings to resolve the matter peacefully, which were eventually held. However, it’s unfortunate that, alongside its illegal construction action, the Afghan side also resorted to indiscriminate fire at Torkham border terminal and our military post.” He pointed out that to-date the matter remains unresolved. Pakistan strongly condemns these repeated provocations and actions against Torkham border terminal, which is part of the integrated transit trade management system, established to promote bilateral and transit trade.
“Afghan actions resulting in forced closure of the border crossing at a time of economic hardship in Afghanistan is hardly sensible and will only aggravate the situation. We therefore call upon the interim Afghan authorities to shun violence and resolve matters through peaceful means, which according to the UN Charter and international law, is the most suitable method for resolving any dispute between two neighboring countries,” he added.
To a query about the Taliban spokesman alleging that there were training camps inside Pakistan, the spokesman responded, “Regarding training camps of ISKP in Pakistan, we categorically reject these completely unfounded allegations. They are nothing but a sad attempt to deflect the reality of providing sanctuaries to the terrorist elements in Afghanistan, which are acting against Pakistan,” he said.
In a related development, Khalistan activists attempted to disrupt the visit of India’s External Affairs Minister Jaishankar in London, with a demonstration outside the Chatham House.
As Jaishankar was departing the venue after a discussion, an activist ran towards his convoy and tore the Indian national flag in front of police officers, media reports suggest. A video also widely circulated online, shows the activist aggressively approaching the minister’s car while law enforcement appeared momentarily hesitant before intervening, according to Indian media. The activist was later taken into custody along with others involved in the protest
Another video from the demonstration shows Khalistan supporters and activists gathered outside the Chatham House, waving flags and chanting slogans. The protest occurred during Jaishankar’s official visit to the United Kingdom, which runs from March 4 to 9. During his stay, he engaged in discussions at Chevening House with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, according to media reports.