ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office of Pakistan on Thursday termed the US decision to sell integrated air defense weapon system to India as disturbing saying it would further destabilize the already volatile region.
Foreign Office Spokesperson Aisha Farooqui said the sale of such sophisticated weapons to India would disturb the strategic balance in South Asia with security implications for Pakistan and the region.
“The defense relations between the US and India are contributing to destabilization of peace and security in South Asia,” she said at her weekly news briefing in Islamabad.
Aisha Farooqui said the international community was fully aware of India’s aggressive policy designs against Pakistan and the threatening statements of Indian political and military leadership.
She said South Asia cannot afford an arms race and conflict. It, was therefore, incumbent upon the international community to prevent destabilization of the region.
Voicing concerns over increased ceasefire agreement violations by India, the spokesperson said India had committed 272 ceasefire violations since the start of 2020. As a result of which three civilians had embraced martyrdom and 25 others sustained serious injuries.
Also Read: PM Imran warns India of response over continuous LoC firing
Aisha Farooqui said Pakistan had been warning for a long time about the possibility of some false flag operations by India. She said, “We are concerned about the possibility of India resorting to some distraction during the forthcoming high profile visits to the region including those of the Turkish President and the UN Secretary General to Pakistan and the US President Donald Trump to India.”
The Foreign Office spokesperson said Indian provocations were obviously designed to divert global attraction from its state terrorism in occupied Jammu and Kashmir as well as from Pakistan’s ongoing successful efforts in countering terrorism and with respect to fulfillment of our obligations under FATF regime.
She warned the Indian acts carried inherent risks of further inflaming the bilateral environment and potentially leading to unforeseeable consequences.
The FO spokesperson said Pakistan maintained an unwavering resolve to respond most effectively and immediately to any Indian provocation and continued its path towards national development and regional peace and stability.
When asked about US President Donald Trump’s mediation offer on Kashmir dispute, the spokesperson said Pakistan hoped that the offers made on more than one occasion would translate into action.
She said, “We also hope that the US President will raise the matter during his visit to India.”
Responding to a question about Pakistan’s expectations from getting out of FATF grey list, the spokesperson said, “We are hopeful and our partners in the international community are willing to support the country on this issue.”
About coronavirus, she said the foreign office and our missions were in constant touch with the Chinese friends to fully take care of the needs of Pakistani nationals. She was appreciative of the fact that China had taken care of our nationals and students as their own.
