ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Foreign Office said on Friday that India should honour the commitment made by its first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru for the resolution of Kashmir dispute in accordance with the aspirations of Kashmiri people.
In his weekly news briefing in Islamabad on Friday, the Foreign Office Spokesperson Tasneem Aslam regretted that in its efforts to rewrite history, India has forgotten the acknowledgement and commitment made by its first prime minister in the context of Kashmir dispute.
The spokesperson said that the sacrifices rendered by Kashmiri youth for their just struggle have made it clear that they do not accept the forced union with India.
Tasneem Aslam said that the elections that are conducted by India under gun in the held valley are not substitute to the right of self-determination of Kashmiri people.
The spokesperson said right of Kashmiri people to self-determination is also enshrined in numerous UN Security Council resolutions. However, she lamented, India continues to usurp this right with impunity in violation of the UN Security Council resolutions and UN charter.
The FO spokesperson said that unlike India, Pakistan’s stance on Jammu & Kashmir is based on the UN resolutions, international law and underpinned by political and moral principles.
Chinese President will visit Pakistan this year: FO
The spokesperson told media persons that the Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit Pakistan in 2015.
In addition, she also confirmed the visit of the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to Pakistan, and said that the detailed agenda of the Chinese Foreign Minister’s visit to Pakistan is still being worked out.
“The two sides will cover the entire spectrum of bilateral relations and will discuss regional issues of common interest as per our tradition and practice,” she said.
Pakistan is hosting 1.6 million Afghan refugees
In reply to a question about Afghan refugees in the country, the spokesperson said that there are 1.6 million registered Afghan refugees in Pakistan
The spokesperson said that we have signed a trilateral agreement with the Afghan government and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for their return to their homeland by December 2015.
“We would like to see the UNHCR work with the Afghan Government to create a pull factor for Afghan refugees to go back,” Aslam said.
Moreover, she said that we have been encouraged by the Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s statement that he attaches the highest priority to the return of Afghan refugees and we hope that the ground is being prepared for their early return.
