Responding to the Indian claims of conducting 'surgical strikes' into Pakistan, Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria categorically rejected the claims, saying the Indian forces violated the 2003 cease-fire agreement on the Line of Control (LoC). "Pakistan strongly condemns unprovoked cease-fire violations at LoC by Indian forces, which is a continuation of a pattern of cease fire violations committed by the Indian forces. The valiant armed forces of Pakistan have given and will continue to give a befitting response to any aggression," he added.
"Pakistan also rejects the baseless Indian claim that it has "carried out surgical strikes into Pakistan". The Indian side has chosen to share this falsified claim with the Indian media", he said, adding such falsified, concocted and irresponsible statements can only escalate the already fragile security situation in the region, especially in the wake of the Indian brutalities and war crimes in the Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
He said that India has deliberately escalated tension at the LoC in order to divert attention from the continued deteriorating situation in the Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir and horrendous Indian brutalities there. "It is trying to make fool of its own people and the international community", he added.
"We can assure India that any such aggression will not go unanswered or unpunished. Pakistan is ready to defend its people and territory from any Indian aggression or Indian State sponsored terrorism on Pakistani soil". Responding to media queries during weekly briefing, Nafees Zakaria said that LoC, cease-fire violation by India without provocation did take place and India has admitted it.
About postponement of SAARC Summit, he said that India has a track record of impeding the SAARC process, adding Indian intentions of creating hurdles are visible from the actions and statements at the political level during the last two months, coupled with co-ordinated media efforts. He said that India is desperate to divert the international community's attention from the atrocities and blatant human rights violations being committed by the Indian occupation forces in Indian occupied Kashmir on defenseless Kashmiri Muslims.
He pointed out that the major thrust of SAARC activities is to uplift the socio-economic conditions of the people of South Asia, which has the highest concentration of the world's poor. "India's negative attitude has had a direct bearing on the welfare and betterment in this region, which is highly regrettable", he added. Responding to the Indian threat of revoking the Indus Water Treat (IWT), he said that we have seen the media reports but have not received any formal communication on the matter. "The Indus Waters Treaty is not time barred and was never intended to be time or event specific. It is binding on both India and Pakistan and has no exit provision", he said, adding as per the sub-provisions (3) and (4) of the Article XII of the IWT, the Treaty cannot be altered or revoked unilaterally.
He said that there is an Arbitration mechanism provided in IWT to resolve the disputes related to the implementation of the Treaty. This mechanism has been utilised by India and Pakistan to resolve many Indus water related disputes amicably. "India cannot unilaterally revoke IWT as it would undermine India's international standing", he said, adding Pakistan is closely monitoring the situation and would respond accordingly.
Rejecting the Indian Prime Minister Modi's claim to have "successfully isolated Pakistan", he said that Pakistan cannot be isolated by mere statements of the Indian Prime Minister.
He said that Pakistan enjoys friendly and close relations with the comity of nations and Prime Minister Sharif's engagements on the sidelines of the 71st UNGA session in New York, China's massive investments, joint exercises with Russia, visit of Iranian Naval ships, signing of mega project agreements with Central Asian States, Russia, China and International Financial Institutions make Indian claim a laughing stock.
He also welcomed the first bilateral joint military exercises between Pakistan army and the Russian Federation ground forces, currently being held in Pakistan from 24 September to 10 October 2016, which has been nick-named "Friendship 2016".
He said that the arrival of four Iranian naval ships at the port of Karachi on a three-day visit is also warmly welcomed. The Iranian Naval officers will have professional interaction with their Pakistani counterparts, he added. About the reported India-North Korea nuclear nexus as well as Indian efforts at NAM Summit to block a condemnation move of the North Korea nuclear test, Zakaria said we have seen the reports and also taken note of the report by the UN Security Council Committee, which oversees the implementation of sanctions on DPRK, regarding training of DPRK personnel in India.
"It is for India to explain the reason for its position during the NAM Summit in Venezuela", he added. Asked to comment on reports that India declared an accident blast in oil depot in Army Brigade Headquarters at Uri as terrorist attack, he declined to comment "prior to independent investigation report".
However, he said that it was important to see the reported incident in the context of two important backgrounds, the ongoing atrocities by Indian security forces in IoK and India's desperate attempt to divert world's attention from the region; and that India has demonstrated capability of staging terrorists attack on its soil and blaming it on others.
"We have seen time and again that India would blame another country for terrorist activity and somewhere down the line it would turn out to be the handiwork of its own security agencies", he said while referring to Samjhauta Express terrorist attack, the responsibility for which was admitted by leaders of India's own terrorist and extremist organisations RSS and Abhinav Bharat.
About any expected diplomatic solution of issues with India, he said that Pakistan has always called for dialogue, particularly with regard to the issue of Kashmir, for achieving lasting peace and stability in the region. During the recent atrocities in IoK, Pakistan has sent two letters to Indian government for an exclusive dialogue on Kashmir with a view to resolving the longstanding issue. "India has not been forthcoming in accepting Pakistan's offers for dialogue. India's conditional approach to dialogue is unacceptable," he added.
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