ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Foreign Office said on Thursday that Pakistan hopes that the US President Barack Obama as being head of the global power will take up with the Indian authorities the issue of recent escalation on the Line of Control (LoC) and the Working Boundary.
Obama is scheduled to travel to New Delhi on January 25 for the Indian Republic Day celebrations and talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In her weekly news briefing in Islamabad on Thursday, the Foreign Office Spokesperson Tasneem Aslam said that several Pakistanis have lost their lives as a result of unprovoked firing along the LoC and the Working boundary by the Indian border forces.
The spokesperson said that this escalation at a time when Pakistan is in the midst of a robust and broad operation against terrorism reflects that certain forces does not want Pakistan to succeed in the war against this menace.
It, she said, is not in the interest of the international community including India.
The FO spokesperson also voiced concerns over burning of four Muslims in the Indian northeastern state of Assam, saying this is flagrant violation of human rights.
Tasneem Aslam expressed hope that the Indian government will look into the incident and take stern action against the responsible persons.
In reply to a question about Obama’s statement about taking unilateral action against terrorists, the spokesperson stressed that all anti-terrorism efforts should be within the parameters of international laws.
“We appreciate the United States for expressing solidarity with us on the Peshawar tragedy,” Aslam said.
However, she added, as regards the countering terrorism, the action should be in line with international laws and cooperation amongst members of international community.
When asked about the presence of Islamic State elements in Pakistan, Tasneem Aslam said that we are alert to the threat of the outfit.
“Pakistan is already carrying out an across the board operation against all the terrorists,” she added.
Talking about relations with Afghanistan, the spokesperson said that we have been able to establish cooperative relations with the neighbouring country over the past few months.
The Foreign Office spokesperson said that both the countries are in close contact and cooperating with each other in counter terrorism efforts.
