AsiaNet-Pakistan Premier Editorial Content and Press Release Distribution Service
Islamabad, Pakistan has rejected provocative statements and claims by Indian leaders regarding Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), noting a surge in such remarks in recent times.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, in her weekly press briefing in Islamabad, dismissed all unwarranted claims that pose threats to regional peace and stability, urging Indian politicians to stop dragging Pakistan into their internal discourse to gain electoral advantage.
Baloch noted that despite India’s rhetoric and assertions, IIOJK remains an internationally recognized disputed territory, with the UN Security Council’s resolutions indicating that the final status would be determined through a free plebiscite reflecting the will of the Kashmiri people. “India would be wise to help implement those resolutions instead of harboring delusions of grandeur,” she remarked.
The spokesperson also criticized India’s ongoing vilification, stigmatization, and victimization of Muslims and other minorities.
In response to a question during the briefing, Baloch stated that there was currently no back-channel diplomacy between Pakistan and India aimed at normalizing bilateral trade. Additionally, she mentioned that Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif is set to attend a special meeting of the World Economic Forum on “Global Collaboration, Growth, and Energy for Development� in Riyadh on April 28-29.