-Expresses pleasure over US clarification on Kashmir polic
-Highlights Kashmir is a disputed territory
-Says Pakistan will never tolerate over Kashmir
By Asghar Ali Mubarak
ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Friday expressed his pleasure over the clarification by the United States that there had been no change in their policy on Kashmir as they still considered it a disputed territory.
The foreign minister, in a statement, said that Pakistan immediately presented its stance following a State Department’s tweet.
He was referring to a State Department’s tweet on February 10 about resumption of 4G service in which IIOJK was referred as “India’s Jammu and Kashmir” what Pakistan viewed was “inconsistent” with the disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir as recognized by numerous United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions and the international community.
However, State Department Spokesperson in his media briefing clarified, “I want to be very clear there has been no change in US policy in the region.”
Qureshi said like elsewhere in the world, the economy in the Gulf countries was also hit by COIVD-19 which resulted into layoffs and consequent repatriation of many people.
Likewise, the pandemic also adversely impacted aviation, hoteling and restaurant businesses as well as the construction industry.
He said during his recent visit to the UAE, he had discussed the matter in detail with his counterpart. The UAE’s reservations were not Pakistan-specific, though the latter was trying to address those, he explained.
The foreign minister said the discussion was underway and hoped for a better outcome. Referring to Naval Exercise AMAN-21 being hosted by Pakistan Navy and participated by 40 international navies, the foreign minister termed it a great success of Pakistan. The exercises would also provide an opportunity for discussion on blue economy, Qureshi said and also hinted at visiting Karachi on the invitation of Naval chief.
Earlier, Pakistan on Thursday expressed “disappointment” over a tweet by U.S. State Department for making a reference regarding Jammu and Kashmir “inconsistent” with its disputed status. The Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, US State Department in its tweet dated February 10 had mentioned the reference as “India’s Jammu & Kashmir” while welcoming the resumption of 4G services.
“We are disappointed to note the reference to Jammu and Kashmir in the U.S. Department of State’s tweet regarding the resumption of 4G mobile internet in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK),” the Foreign Office Spokesperson said in response to media queries.
The FO Spokesperson said the reference was “inconsistent” with the disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir as recognized by numerous United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions and the international community.
“Jammu and Kashmir is one of the oldest items on the agenda of the UNSC, which remains unresolved because of India’s intransigence and unwillingness to implement the relevant UNSC resolutions and its own solemn commitments made to Pakistan, the Kashmiris and the international community,” he said.
The Spokesperson said the political and economic progress of the people of Jammu and Kashmir was inextricably linked to the realization of their desire for exercising the right to self-determination.
