India running false campaigns to hide brutalities in IHK: FO

Spokesman dispels impression of diplomatic isolation

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office on Friday said that India was desperate and making every effort to deflect attention from the Indian-Held Kashmir (IHK).

“Manifestations of these efforts are visible in their false media campaigns and false surgical strikes claim and things like that. So, these are the reflections of desperation of India and the pressure which is being built on India in the context of the brutalities it is committing in the IHK. We have been asking international community’s intervention in this regard and we will keep on asking this. That is not all. More than merely stopping bloodshed in IHK, we urge that the Indian government and Indian occupation forces be called to account for the brutalities, murder and butchering of hundreds of innocent Kashmiris, while thousands of them have been taken away and their fate is unknown. There has to be an independent inquiry for which OIC and UN are also insisting,” the spokesman said in the weekly media briefing.

The government says that it is highlighting the Kashmir issue, particularly the grave human rights situation, at all bilateral and international forums.To a query, the spokesman said: “The voice is reaching all corners of the world. The parliamentarians, human rights organisations, members of civil society and Pakistani and Kashmir Diaspora are actively highlighting the plight of Kashmiris across Europe, the UK, North America and Nordic States. Also, prime minister’s envoys and as well as Pakistan’s ambassadors in those countries are reaching out to various segments of the dismissed the Dawn report as one based on speculation which was admitted by the author, adding that none of his statements that he had quoted could be verified.

“The reality is that there is a growing national consensus to eliminate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. There is zero tolerance and we draw no distinction or discrimination,” spokesman said.  This was in reference to the report that the civil government was building pressure on the army to withdraw all support to non-state actors.

He pointed out that one has to be clear about one’s perception about “isolation”.  “I have already said that Pakistan is very much engaged in world affairs. Number of multilateral events and high-level visits are taking place in and out of Pakistan. Wherever our leadership goes they are very well received. More and more countries are engaging with Pakistan. Pakistan’s strategic location is of immense importance. I give you examples of Russia and Iran’s recent engagements with Pakistan. Therefore, to say that someone can isolate Pakistan by mere propaganda and nothing else”, the spokesman explained.