-Says Delhi under international scrutiny like never before
-Terms new citizenship law as disenfranchisement of 200m Muslims
By Ajmal Khan Yousafzai
ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Thursday stated that ‘Incredible India’ is now being viewed as “intolerant India”, and ‘Shining India’ as “burning India”, adding that the country is now facing international scrutiny like never before.
The foreign minister expressed these views while speaking at a seminar, organised by the Centre for Aerospace and Security Studies, in Islamabad.
During his address, Qureshi stated: “Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s policies are taking a bloody and dangerous turn, as predicted by Prime Minister Imran Khan.”
Referring to the country’s contentious bill that sparked deadly riots in the Indian capital, he said: “India’s Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens are aimed at disenfranchising the country’s 200 million Muslims.”
Referring to the 2002 riots in Gujrat, Qureshi said: “The pogrom of Gujrat is being replayed on the streets of New Delhi. This is a matter of deep concern to Pakistan and should be to the entire world. Hindutva and its capture of Indian state institutions poses the single, gravest threat to global and regional peace and security.
“Pakistan has not sought conflict with India, but we have not appeased either. We have not shied away from lending our full voice and support to the beleaguered people of occupied Kashmir. We have not shied away from exposing the real Indian intent and agenda to the world.
“Today, after decades of hiatus, the Kashmiri issue is fully alive and internationalised. The world’s opinion is turning in favour of the Kashmiris, and against ruling Hindu supremacists.
“We have no doubt that the world community can clearly see the BJP [Bharatiya Janata Party] government in India for what it is; an ideologically driven, hate-filled, majoritarian clique that is destroying the societal fabric, and deeply hurting minorities, especially Muslims.
“They must be held
accountable for the crimes against humanity they are committing everyday,” he said.
The foreign minister also stated that Pakistan remains committed to its core objective of lowering tensions and promoting peace and stability in the region, Radio Pakistan reported.
Pakistan will not become involved in any regional conflict and will continue to support negotiated settlements of all regional disputes, the report quoted him as saying.
“Dialogue is the only viable option to bring peace and stability to the region,” he added.
Reiterating Pakistan’s firm resolve to promote peace in the world, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Thursday termed ‘Doha agreement’ major milestone in the restoration of peace in war-torn Afghanistan, media reported.
Addressing a seminar in Islamabad, FM Qureshi said that Pakistan played a vital role in the Afghan peace process, adding that the world acknowledged Islamabad’s efforts for regional peace.
He said that Pakistan is a peace-loving country and added that the country will not become a party in any regional conflict.
On the occasion, the foreign minister said that Islamabad desired friendly relations with all its neighbouring countries, including India and Afghanistan.
He said that the BJP-led Indian government’s fascist ideologies have regional peace and stability.
The foreign minister said that Pakistan had given a responsible response to the Indian aggression in February last year.
Earlier on February 29, In a major development, the United States and Afghan Taliban had signed a peace agreement in Doha, Qatar, which had been welcomed wholeheartedly by Pakistan, a press release by the foreign office on the matter expressed great jubilation on the development.
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi who was present at this occasion, on the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar had expressed his happiness to the media after the ceremony, the Foreign Minister had welcomed the signing of the Peace Agreement and had said that it carried immense importance — both in symbolism and substance — for Afghanistan, the region and beyond.
