Pakistan rejects Indian remarks on Kashmir, CPEC, Afghan situation

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Saturday categorically rejected the baseless and irresponsible remarks made by the Indian state minister for external affairs in the Indian Parliament regarding the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, situation in Afghanistan and the China Pakistan Economic Corridor.

“Regurgitation of false and fabricated claims by India can neither change the facts nor divert attention from India’s illegal occupation and human rights violations in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK),” Foreign Office spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said, while responding to media queries.

He said Jammu and Kashmir remained an internationally recognised dispute, pending resolution in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions and the wishes of the people of Kashmir.

The Foreign Office spokesperson said India had no locus standi whatsoever on the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which was a flagship project under the Belt and Road Initiative.

“It promises socioeconomic uplift and regional connectivity. No amount of Indian machinations or propaganda can undermine the significance of CPEC for peace, development and prosperity of the region,” he added.

As for Afghanistan, the spokesperson said: “Rather than expressing fake concern for the country, India would be well-advised to stop pedaling the delusional contiguous neighbour fiction; to remind itself that its role as a ‘spoiler’ in Afghanistan is well-established; and to focus on course correction.”