Pakistan urges world to take notice of Shiv Sena activities
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday requested the international community to take notice of the activities of India's hardliner political party Shiv Sena.
Foreign Office spokesman Qazi Khalilullah during the weekly briefing said that Pakistan has repeatedly expressed reservations over Shiv Sena's activities.
The FO spokesman maintained that Indian ambitions are destabilising the security situation in the region, while Pakistani missions worldwide have been exposing Indian designs in this regard.
Read: Shiv Sena activists threaten Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan
He urged India to refrain from entering into an arms race in the region and work towards improving the security situation.
About the recent earthquake, Khalilullah said that United Nations (UN) and a number of other countries have offered help but Pakistan has so far not decided to accept international help in this regard.
The spokesman said that Pakistan and Russia have agreed to jointly construct a gas pipeline and will welcome Russian President Vladimir Putin to visit to Pakistan early next year for the project's ground- breaking ceremony.
Also read: Quake toll reaches 267, Nawaz announces relief package
On October 19, activists belonging to Shiv Sena attacked the Mumbai headquarters of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) just before Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Shaharyar Khan was to meet BCCI Chief Shashank Manohar to discuss a bilateral series scheduled to be held in December.
The activists shouted anti-Pakistan slogans and held posters that read 'Shahryar Khan go back', determined to stop Manohar from meeting his Pakistani counterpart. The protesters entered Manohar's office and crowded around his desk, shouting slogans.
The meeting was cancelled after the incident.
Earlier this month, Shiv Sena activists attacked Sudheendra Kulkarni, who organised a book launch in Mumbai for former Pakistan foreign minister Khurshid Kasuri.
Recently a concert of Pakistani singer Ghulam Ali, scheduled to be held in Mumbai, was cancelled after security concerns arose over threats issued by Shiv Sena activists.
Also read: 'Shiv Seniks' disrupt Pakistani play in India
Relations between the Pakistan and India are at their lowest ebbs with allegations of ceasefire violations and involvement in terrorism from both sides.
Planned talks between national security advisers from India and Pakistan were canceled in August hours before they were due to start, dashing hopes the two might tackle the violence that many fear could one day spark a nuclear showdown.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during his speech at the 70th session of UN General Assembly earlier this month, presented a four point peace initiative to resolve all issues with India.
But India rejected the peace plan accusing Pakistan of promoting terrorism in the region, Pakistan handed over three dossiers of Indian involvement of terrorism inside Pakistan to UN chief.
Related: PPP wants Shiv Sena declared ‘extremist organisation’