THURSDAY JUNE 11: Break-up of Pakistan, terrorism: India's role will be exposed: government

ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz on Wednesday said that Pakistan will take all possible steps to expose India's evil role in the break-up of Pakistan in 1971 as well as his wishful thinking to 'destabilise Pakistan through terrorism'.
In a policy statement on the floor of the Senate, he said the government has taken a strong note of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement during his recently concluded visit to Bangladesh in which he acknowledged Indian government's involvement in the events of 1971 in the then Eastern Province of Pakistan.
Prior to his statement in the House, Chairman Senate Raza Rabbani welcomed a delegation of the diplomatic corps/deans of various countries who witnessed the Senate proceedings. Aziz assured the House that Pakistan would take all possible steps on the diplomatic front to expose India's role in the break-up of Pakistan in 1971 and its declared policy of 'destabilising Pakistan through terrorism'.
He also told the House that the government of Pakistan has already urged the international community to take note of India's acknowledgement of its blatant interference in a sovereign neighbouring country. "Such statements only confirm Pakistan's stance on India's activities to destabilise Pakistan," he said, adding it was regrettable that the Indian politicians not only indulge in actions that are in violation of the United Nations Charter but also take pride in recalling their interference in the internal affairs of the other states.
"Mr Modi's statement at Dhaka University in which he characterised bilateral relations as a 'nuisance' is most unfortunate considering that Pakistan pursues a policy of maintaining good neighbourly relations," he said, adding not only do such statements vitiate the atmosphere, put a question mark on India's sincerity to establish good-neighbourly relations with Pakistan, and contribute towards shrinking the constituency for peace by negatively affecting the public perception.
He said that the open admission of India's active involvement against Pakistan's territorial integrity at the highest political level point to the past and present subversive role played by its intelligence agencies in destabilising Pakistan through supporting anti-Pakistan and terrorist elements, as a matter of state policy. "This is a serious issue, which the world and the UN should take note of," he added.
He further said that Modi's statement should be seen in conjunction with the recent statement of the Indian Defence Minister to the effect of "neutralising terrorism with terrorism." Pakistan is faced with numerous challenges in its unrelenting fight against terrorism, he said, adding the brave people and valiant armed forces have sacrificed thousands in their efforts to eliminate the scourge of terrorism from our country. "We will not allow any other country to unsettle Pakistan in this noble pursuit," he asserted.
While in Bangladesh, the Adviser recalled that Prime Minister Modi also tried to make a case for India's permanent membership of UN Security Council. "It is ironical for India to make such a claim in the face of the fact that India has been in violation of UNSC's longstanding resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir," he added. He further said that it was regrettable that the Indian Prime Minister chose Bangladesh to make statements aimed at fanning hatred against Pakistan in Bangladesh.
"I would like to avail of this opportunity to reiterate that the people of Pakistan and Bangladesh are bound not only by the strong bonds of religious affinity but also by the history of their struggle for independence against colonial rule," he said, adding "Indian attempts to sow seeds of discord between the two brotherly nations of Pakistan and Bangladesh will not succeed, Insha Allah!"