News Desk
The Special Assistant to Prime Minister on National Security Division, Dr Moeed Yusuf has said that Pakistan stands for peace and will welcome any dialogue with India if lives of Kashmiris in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) are normalized. He said that Kashmiris are recognized as the rightful principal party in any dialogue and India must stop sponsoring terrorism against Pakistan.
According to media reports, Dr Moeed Yusuf has stated these remarks during his first interview with an Indian news outlet conducted by India’s renowned journalist Karan Thapar on Tuesday. He reiterated that Prime Minister Imran Khan’s stance that if India takes one step forward, Pakistan would take two steps forward.
The Special Assistant outlined pre-conditions necessary for any dialogue with India. He said New Delhi must release all political prisoners in IIOJ&K, lift the military siege, reverse the domicile bill and stop all human rights violations against Kashmiris before any dialogue can begin.
Dr Moeed Yusuf also reminded Indian audiences that today, even pro-India Kashmiri politicians have publicly admitted that no one in IIOJK is willing to live under Indian occupation anymore. He emphasized that Kashmiris remain the principal party in the dispute according to Pakistan and their wishes and aspirations should be addressed in any dialogue.
“Pakistan stands firmly for peace in the region through dialogue but New Delhi’s draconian policies towards Kashmiris have made talks impossible. Pakistan stands by United Nations (UN) Security Council resolutions as the way forward for resolving the dispute and fulfilling the aspirations of over eight million Kashmiris,” he said, adding that Indian propaganda would not shake the principled stance of Pakistan on the Kashmir issue.
The Special Assistant said that PM Imran Khan has directed his office to open space for the government in the region and find solutions to lingering problems, but his counterpart in India is pursuing an opposite direction. He also pointed to Pakistan’s response on 27 February 2019 and warned that any misadventure from India would result in an equally swift response from Pakistan.
Responding to Indian allegations about terrorism, the SAPM said Pakistan has facilitated investigations in all cases pending in courts but India is delaying the investigations by not providing evidence in the case and not finding a resolution to terror cases helped India in its false narrative of terrorism. He called out India for being unable to bring the perpetrators of the Samjhuta and Babri Masjid cases, Malegaon blast case and others to justice while it accuses Pakistan of delays which speaks to double standards.
“PM Imran Khan’s government is dedicated to pursuing economic security and connectivity for the prosperity of Pakistan and the region, but policymakers in New Delhi remained blind sighted by Hindutva ideology. India has lost the neighbourhood because of the expansionist policies of the BJP government, while Pakistan is pursuing peace in its neighbourhood,” he added.
Dr Moeed Yusuf revealed new details about millions of dollars in payments made to TTP leadership by RAW officer through Indian Embassy funds.
For the first time, the SAPM also blamed India for sponsoring the heinous Army Public School Peshawar attack in which over 100 innocent children lost their lives. He said Pakistan has record of eight phone calls made from India to TTP commander before the attack. He added that Indian intelligence handlers based in a neighboring country have directed attacks on the Chinese consulate in Karachi, Pearl Continental hotel in Gwadar and the Pakistan Stock Exchange attack in the last two years. He also revealed how Baloch Liberation Army terrorists were receiving treatment in a hospital in New Delhi.
