The BRICS Times
Pakistan objected to referencing Jammu & Kashmir as part of India in the joint statement, calling it “a clear violation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions.”
A day after India and Afghanistan released a joint statement to bolster ties, Pakistan expressed “strong reservations” about parts of it, and also about comments by Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi during his New Delhi visit.
The Pakistan Foreign Ministry objected to the reference to Jammu & Kashmir as integral to India in the joint statement, terming it “a clear violation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions.” They said these reservations were passed on to the Additional Foreign Secretary (West Asia & Afghanistan).
In the joint statement, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar thanked Afghanistan for strongly condemning the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives. “Both sides unequivocally condemned all acts of terrorism emanating from regional countries. They underscored the importance of promoting peace, stability, and mutual trust in the region,” read the October 10 statement.
Besides the joint statement, Pakistan also took issue with remarks by Muttaqi while in India, particularly his claim that terrorism is an internal matter for Pakistan.
The Pakistani foreign ministry said it had shared details about terror elements operating from Afghan soil against Pakistan, adding: “It was emphasised that by deflecting the responsibility of controlling terrorism towards Pakistan cannot absolve the interim Afghan government of ensuring peace and stability in the region and beyond.”
The comments followed Muttaqi’s condemnation of multiple blasts in Afghanistan a day earlier, when he blamed Pakistan and insisted that Afghan territory could “never” be a base for terrorism.
“We consider this act of Pakistan wrong. Problems cannot be solved like this… We have kept the door to discussion open. They should solve their problem on their own. Afghanistan has peace and progress after 40 years,” Muttaqi was quoted by ANI as saying.
However, Pakistan’s foreign ministry clarified that unauthorized Afghan nationals cannot stay in Pakistan, asserting that it will regulate foreign presence.
In the first high-level diplomatic visit since the Taliban took over Afghanistan in 2021, Muttaqi came to India and met S. Jaishankar in New Delhi on Friday. The Taliban minister assured that Afghanistan would not allow any group to use its land against another country, and both India and Afghanistan condemned terrorism.
“I am happy to be in Delhi, and this visit will increase the understanding between the two countries. India and Afghanistan should increase their engagements and exchanges… We will not allow any group to use our territory against others,” Muttaqi said.
His trip to India had been announced earlier this month, after he secured a temporary travel waiver from the UN Security Council Committee.
Akshay Didwaniya
