Says that the situation in AJK is being dealt with within a democratic and constitutional framework
Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Tahir Andrabi speaks at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ weekly press briefing. SCREEN GRAB
Pakistan on Thursday strongly rejected recent statements by Indian officials on the situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), and the foreign ministry said New Delhi was trying to divert attention from the unresolved Kashmir conflict and its own record in Indian-administered territory.
At the weekly press briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Andrabi said Pakistan had “seen these statements” from India and “rejects India’s remarks in their entirety.”
He said it was “untenable for a state like India, which has consistently denied the people of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) their right to self-determination, to invoke concerns over Kashmiri rights”.
He added that through such comments, India was trying to “divert attention from the unresolved status of Jammu and Kashmir and its own abysmal record in the Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir”.
Rejecting any comparison between the two sides of the Line of Control (LoC), the spokesman said Pakistan “also rejects any insinuation of the false equivalence between the situation in IIOJK and issues relating to AJK”.
He said the IIOJK was “an illegally annexed, internationally recognized disputed territory” where people had “suffered systemic abuses under draconian laws” and had been denied their right to self-determination under UN Security Council resolutions.
In contrast, he said, “the situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir… [is being] dealt with within a democratic and constitutional framework.” He added: “Any attempt to conflate the two is misleading and does not stand up to objective scrutiny”.
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He reiterated Pakistan’s position, saying Islamabad would continue to support “the human rights of Kashmiris, including their inalienable right to self-determination,” and pursue a “peaceful resolution of this eight-decade-old dispute in accordance with international law … and the wishes and aspirations of the Kashmiri people.”
He also called on India to agree to a UN-supervised referendum, saying: “If India sincerely believes that the wishes of the Kashmiri people… should prevail… it must uphold their right to self-determination.”
Nuclear concerns
Responding to questions about a recent report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the spokesman said Pakistan had reviewed the findings and was not surprised.
He said Pakistan “does not want to support or lend credence to SIPRI’s methodology,” but its findings “nevertheless are not surprising”.
Andrabi noted that the report “broadly confirms concerns that Pakistan has consistently raised regarding India’s continued vertical proliferation.” The spokesperson added: “We also believe that open source estimates such as SIPRI may not fully reflect the actual extent of India’s nuclear arsenal, which may actually be higher”.
He warned that developments in India’s nuclear posture, including missile systems and submarines, could “enhance operational readiness, complicate crisis stability and have ramifications that extend beyond South Asia with serious implications for international peace and security.”
Pakistan, he said, “is not seeking an arms race” but remains “aware of the evolving security environment” and will take “all measures necessary to maintain strategic stability.” He urged the international community to “closely monitor the development and deployment of India’s nuclear arsenal.”
Water rights
The spokesman also reacted strongly to reported remarks by India’s water resources minister suggesting that “not a single drop of water will go to Pakistan in the coming years.”
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He said Pakistan had seen the statement and warned that any attempt to restrict water would be “deeply irresponsible” and violate international obligations and bilateral agreements.
Andrabi stated that Pakistan strongly rejects any notion that water can be treated as a “political tool or instrument of coercion or a weapon.” He warned that such actions would threaten regional stability and said the responsibility would “fall squarely on India’s shoulders.”
Andrabi reiterated, “Pakistan’s rights and interests … are non-negotiable.” He said Islamabad would defend its water rights through “all available diplomatic, legal, political, economic and other measures”.
He further warned that any attempt to block water vital to the people of Pakistan could be considered “an extremely serious act” and “possibly amount to an act of war”.
Citing Article 51 of the UN Charter, he said Pakistan retained the right to self-defense and would take “all necessary measures to protect its economy … and the lives of its 250 million people”.
Somali hostage situation
Andrabi also gave updates on Pakistani citizens held hostage on a cargo ship by Somali pirates, saying they had been held captive for “almost 50 days”.
He said Pakistan was engaged with Somali authorities, the ship owner and relevant tribal actors in Puntland to secure their release.
The FO spokesperson also noted that the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Ishaq Dar had recently spoken to Somalia’s Foreign Minister, while Pakistan’s ambassador to Somalia had also been engaged. He said efforts included “inter-ministerial, inter-departmental meetings” and continued diplomatic engagement.
Andrabi also said Pakistan was working to improve the living conditions of hostages of several nationalities, including Indonesians, Indians, Myanmar and Sri Lankans. He added that Pakistan “sympathizes with the individuals” and their families, but described the situation as “operationally challenging.”
Middle East conflict
Turning to the Middle East, the spokesman said Pakistan remained “deeply concerned” by the latest escalation and called on all parties to abide by the ceasefire agreements.
He said Pakistan believed that “diplomacy and dialogue should be the guiding principles” to resolve disputes. Highlighting Pakistan’s engagement with regional players including Iran, the US and Turkey, Andrabi said these contacts were aimed at de-escalation.
He noted that Pakistan had facilitated diplomatic engagement, contributing to a ceasefire understanding between Israel and Lebanon, describing it as a “positive development” achieved with US involvement.
The spokesman added that Pakistan will continue efforts for peace and stability in the region under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who had emphasized staying on the “path of peace and diplomacy”.
