Gen Qayyum asks Indian govt to apologise to its own nation for killing tourists

RAWALPINDI: Lt. General (retd) Abdul Qayyum, President, Pakistan Ex-Servicemen Society, has asked the Indian government that instead of warmongering, it should apologise to its own nation for having killed innocent tourists to promote their political and strategic agenda which is highly shameful.

“Pakistan sympathises with the families of those killed by the Modi government and has offered to undertake joint investigation of this unfortunate incident,” he said while addressing a press conference here.

Lt. Gen (retd) Qayyum said the same offer was extended by Pakistan in the case of Pathankot incident which India did not accept. He stressed that India must refrain from warmongering as it could be destructive not only for the region but for the world and accept Pakistan’s proposal for joint investigation.

He further said India must stop atrocities in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and withdraw military forces which are committing human rights violations with impunity, besides withdrawing statement on unilateral actions with regard to Indus Waters Treaty.

Lt. Gen (retd) Qayyum further asked India to refrain from launching agents like Kulbhushan Yadav from western border for terrorist activities in Pakistan.

He pointed out that Pakistan happens to be the worst victim of terrorism not only in South Asia but perhaps in the entire world, with thousands of lives lost. Pakistan also suffered economic losses to the tune of USD600 billion while fighting the war against terror, he added.

“India is the most rogue state in South Asia which has been promoting terrorism not only in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Assam, and Maldives but also in Canada and America,” he said, adding: “The present false flag operation in IIOJK is a repetition of such previous operations in Pathankot, Uri and Pulwama, and the latest operation now precedes elections in Bihar state.”

Lt. Gen (retd) Qayyum reiterated that holding the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance violates international laws, UN charters, and Vienna Conventions. “Besides, international laws forbid upper riparian areas from totally drying rivers which come to their share like Ravi, Sutlej, and Beas, where lives of animals and birds are affected,” he said and emphasised that India should allow UN military observers, already present on both sides of the Line of Control, to freely move in IIOJK and investigate all incidents and violations of human rights.

Conveying commitment of ex-servicemen, Lt. Gen (retd) Qayyum said all 3.4 million ex-servicemen, soldiers, sailors, airmen and women personnel place their services at the disposal of the armed forces leadership for utilisation on the front line, for logistics and in the hospitals in case of any Indian aggression.

He also observed that Pakistan has rightly geared up its diplomatic endeavours to highlight the basis for these misadventures by the RSS-based BJP government.