Pakistan on Monday expressed deep concerns over the Iraqi Kurdistan referendum, saying it lacks "legitimacy" and denounced the attempts aimed at threatening the territorial integrity of Iraq or any other country in the region. "Pakistan fully supports Iraq's unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity. It is therefore deeply concerned over the referendum held in the Iraqi Kurdistan region on September 25, 2017," Foreign Office Spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said while responding to media queries.
"The referendum violates the Iraqi constitution and therefore lacks any legitimacy. It also presents a challenge to peace and security of Iraq and the entire region," he said. He said Pakistan joins Iraq and its neighbors, along with the international community, in its opposition to this referendum. "We reaffirm our full support for the government and people of Iraq. We are deeply concerned on attempts aimed at threatening the territorial integrity of Iraq or any other country in the region," the spokesperson added.
The September 25 referendum in Kurdistan region of Iraq voted "YES" in favour of independence but was opposed by major powers including the United States, European countries and the neighbouring Iran and Turkey. "The vote and the results lack legitimacy and we continue to support a united, federal, democratic and prosperous Iraq," said US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in a statement in reaction to the referendum.
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