‘Distortion of facts’: FO rebukes Indian FM’s remarks over AJK

The Foreign Office spokesperson emphasised that India’s claims over AJK held no legal standing and that any electoral exercise under the Indian Constitution cannot replace Kashmiris’ right to self-determination.

He further said that economic measures taken under military occupation cannot address the long-standing grievances of the Kashmiri people.

Noting that Pakistan reiterates its demand that India vacate the territories it has illegally occupied for the past 77 years, Shafqat stressed that a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute, in line with UNSC resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people, was essential for lasting regional stability.

Earlier, while speaking at Chatham House, Jaishankar asserted that the Kashmir issue would be resolved only when the “stolen part” of Kashmir under Pakistan’s “illegal occupation” was returned.

He also claimed that the revocation of Article 370 in 2019 and the October 2024 elections in Jammu and Kashmir were steps toward resolving the dispute.

However, Pakistan firmly rejected these assertions, maintaining that India’s actions in Jammu and Kashmir violate international law and UNSC resolutions.

In August 2019, India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) revoked occupied Kashmir’s special status by abolishing Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, a decision later upheld by the Indian Supreme Court in December 2023.

Handover of terrorist

Regarding Pakistan’s support to arrest and handing of Daesh’s top-tier terrorist Sharifullah to the United States, the spokesperson said that the intelligence cooperation between Pakistan and the US was longstanding.

“Pakistan’s law enforcement agencies’ efforts against terrorism including [Daesh] have resulted in significant successes. Pursuant to the UN Security Council’s resolutions 1267 and 1373, Pakistan collaborated with the US and handed over Sharifullah. These operations manifested Pakistan’s policy of zero tolerance against terrorism,” he remarked.

To a question, he said terrorism remained a core issue between Pakistan and Afghanistan as terror outfits including TTP enjoyed sanctuaries and an enabling environment there and Pakistan had been calling upon the Afghan authorities to act against them.

He said Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar received a call from the US National Security Advisor, Michael Waltz, on Wednesday who conveyed President Trump’s appreciation and thanks for the Government of Pakistan’s efforts in countering terrorism.

Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to continue its cooperation with the US in the field of counter-terrorism and also appreciated President Trump’s announcement to withdraw the US military equipment left behind in Afghanistan which the spokesperson said had been a matter of concern for Pakistan.

Regarding the closure of the Torkham border, the spokesperson rejected the notions of any unilateral action by Pakistan and explained that the Afghan side unilaterally carried out construction activity on the Pakistani side and also resorted to firing on the Pakistan terminal.

A border flag meeting was also held but the matter yet remained unresolved.