ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday said it hopes the recent defence deal between the United States and India would not disturb the strategic balance of South Asia.
Foreign Office Spokesman Nafees Zakaria said that Pakistan hoped the set arrangements do not contribute to polarising the region by disturbing the strategic balance in South Asia and escalating the arms build-up.
He said though the defence pact was an agreement between two sovereign countries, Pakistan hoped it would contribute to peace and stability in the region. On Kashmir issue, he said Pakistan would continue to extend support to Kashmiris in Indian-held Kashmir till justice is done.
“We will continue to extend political and diplomatic support to Kashmiris till justice is done to the people of Kashmir and the brutalities against them are ended,” he said.
Zakaria said Pakistan’s efforts to highlight the Kashmir cause was a ‘matter of commitment’ for it. He mentioned a letter written by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to the United Nations Secretary General on Wednesday in response to his letter acknowledging Pakistan’s commitment to the Kashmir cause.
The letter pointed that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks on Balochistan are ‘an attempt to divert international community’s attention from the Kashmir dispute’.
Zakaria said the international community needs to play its role in resolution of Kashmir issue, adding that the United Nations also has a responsibility upon it to play in this regard.
To a question on the decision to replace the use of pellet shotguns with chilli filled PAVA shells, the spokesman said that New Delhi’s decision was acknowledgement of the heinous crimes being committed against innocent Kashmiris that killed hundreds and left around 570 with eye injuries.
