Pakistan Friday expressed concern over the US plan to provide 24 MH-60R helicopters to India, saying that the 'alarming development' will accelerate the arms race in the region. "The country [India] which is being provided the anti-submarines helicopters has, on February 27, 2019, resorted to aggression against Pakistan, as two of its jets violated our airspace," Spokesperson Foreign Office Dr Mohammad Faisal said while responding to a query during his weekly media briefing.
He described the Trump administration's decision as an 'alarming development,' saying that the move will accelerate arms race in the region. He said Pakistan wants to work for peace but it is not oblivious to its defence either.
The State Department on Tuesday last announced that the US has approved the sale of 24 multi-role MH-60R Seahawk maritime helicopters to India at an estimated cost of US $2.6 billion.
As a goodwill gesture from Pakistan's side, the spokesperson announced that the government has decided to release 360 Indian prisoners in four phases to be completed during this month and also urged reciprocity from the Indian side.
All the 360 Indian prisoners - 355 fishermen and 5 civilians - currently in various jails of Pakistan have completed their terms and the first batch of 100 prisoners will be freed on April 8 (Monday), followed by another 100 to be released on April 15, Dr Faisal said.
The third batch of 100 more Indian prisoners, he said, will be freed on April 22 which will be followed by another batch of 60 Indian prisoners - 55 fishermen and five civilians - to be released on April 29.
"We hope that India will reciprocate Pakistan's goodwill gesture," he hoped, adding that there are a total of 347 Pakistani prisoners currently languishing in different Indian jails, of which 249 are civilians and 98 are fishermen.
About Indian request of counselor access to the Research And Analysis Wing (RAW) convicted spy Kulbhushan Jadhav and his release, the spokesperson said that the case of Jadhav is currently before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and he [Jadhav] does not come in the list of Indian prisoners. He further said that India has yet to give any reply to Pakistan's question with regard to Jadhav's passport.
To another question, Dr Faisal regretted the India government's decision of postponement of a crucial meeting between the officials of the two countries on Kartarpur Corridor which was scheduled for April 2.
He said that Indian side has requested the holding of technical level meeting on Kartarpur Corridor on April 15 and 16, adding that Pakistan will soon respond and convey its decision accordingly to the Indian side.
He reiterated Pakistan's commitment that it will complete its side of the Corridor before the 550th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak later this year as per the directives of the prime minister.
Replying to another question, Dr Mohammad Faisal said Pakistan is taking various steps under National Action Plan (NAP) in its own interest, adding that the time and again the diplomatic corps are being given briefing on the measures undertaken by Pakistan. He said that Pakistan has also taken a number of measures to meet the requirements of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
To another query, he said that that Pakistan will never accept the repeal of Article 370 of the Indian constitution which guarantees special status for Jammu and Kashmir, adding that Kashmiri people will also not allow this to happen ever.
Besides violating the rights of Kashmiris, he said, such a move will also contravene the relevant UN Security Council resolutions on the Jammu and Kashmir.
The spokesperson also welcomed the letter sent by members of the European Parliament to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with regard to worst human rights violations in occupied Jammu and Kashmir. He stated that Pakistan will continue to sensitise the international community on the human rights violations in the occupied valley by the Indian troops.
About the Indian dossier on Pulwama attack, he said that the Indian side has not yet responded to Pakistan's request for further actionable information against the accused in attack.
He said that the piece of paper earlier provided by Indian side could not establish the linkage of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Maulana Masood Azhar with Pulwama attack.
According to the spokesperson, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi during his recent telephonic conversation of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged the US role in resumption of Pakistan-India dialogue, besides discussing issues of mutual interest.
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