ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office on Friday rejected the “Pakistan-specific reference” with regard to cross-border terrorism in the joint US-India statement, calling it “unwarranted, one-sided, and misleading”.

The communique, issued after the meeting between US President Joe Biden and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, “called on Pakistan to take immediate action to ensure that no territory under its control is used for launching terrorist attacks.”

On Friday, the political leadership, as well as the Foreign Office, issued rejoinders calling on global powers to refrain from taking “one-sided positions” on the issue.

“The reference is contrary to diplomatic norms and has political overtones”, Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said in a statement, adding that the statement was “surprising” as Pakistan has been closely cooperating with the US on counterterrorism.

FO says remarks ‘contrary to diplomatic norms’, carries ‘political overtones’; Bilawal sees no threat to ties with Washington

“Pakistan has rendered unmatched sacrifices in the fight against terrorism. In laying down their lives, our law enforcement agencies and armed forces have set an example. People of Pakistan are the real heroes in this fight.”

The international community has time and again recognised Pakistan’s efforts and sacrifices in the fight against terrorism, Ms Baloch said.

“Today, we fail to see how the assertions made in the Joint Statement could strengthen the international resolve to fight terrorism. The statement shows that the cooperative spirit, so vitally needed to defeat the scourge of terrorism, has been sacrificed at the altar of geopolitical considerations.”

She noted that India was not only a “state-sponsor of terrorism” but uses the issue to deflect attention from its brutal repression in Indian-held Kashmir and maltreatment of minorities. “It is thus completely ill-placed to cast any aspersions on Pakistan and its fight against terrorism.”

The Joint Statement fails to address the key sources of tension and instability in the region and to take cognisance of the grave human rights situation in the [held] Kashmir. This is tantamount to abdication of international responsibility,” she continued.

“We urge our international partners to take a holistic and objective view of the issues of peace and security in South Asia and refrain from endorsing one-sided positions.”

Ms Baloch added Pakistan was “deeply concerned over the planned transfer of advanced military technologies to India”.

“Suce such steps were accentuating military imbalance in the region and undermining strategic stability. She said they remain unhelpful in achieving the objective of a durable peace in South Asia.”

‘Focus on putting own house in order’

Similar remarks were made by Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who said Pakistan has successfully defeated terrorism.

Addressing the National Assembly, Mr Bhutto-Zardari said the issue of terrorism must not be a subject of geopolitics.

Mr Bhutto-Zardari said the increasing proximity between New Delhi and Washington posed no threat to Pakistan’s relationship with the world or its bilateral partnership with the US.

“We should stay away from world politics and focus on bringing economic and political stability.”

“Pakistan should look inward because if we correct ourselves, we will be able to achieve international goals,” he remarked, as he stressed the country “was standing on its strength and will continue to do so”.

He reiterated Pakistan suffered the most due to terrorism with far more casualties than India or US or any other country.

“We defeated these terrorists during our government of 2008-13”, he said while referring to the time when the PPP government was in power.

Earlier, raising the issue in the assembly, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif slammed the joint statement, recalling that Mr Modi was banned from entering the US for “the genocide of Muslims in Gujarat”.

The ongoing state-led oppression against religious minorities in India and the undeclared curfew and restrictions imposed on Muslims in Indian held Kashmir were clear violations of basic human rights.He said it was outrageous to doubt the commitment of Pakistan which remained an ally of the US during the war on terror.

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2023