ISLAMABAD – The Foreign Office on Thursday confirmed that India had concurred to Pakistan’s proposal of holding next technical meeting on Kartarpur Corridor on August 30 at the Zero Point designated area of the border.
Foreign Office Spokesman Dr Muhammad Faisal at a weekly press briefing said notwithstanding the current tense situation with India, Pakistan would continue the process of opening of Kartarpur Corridor.
“Pakistan remains committed to complete and inaugurate its side of the Kartarpur Corridor as planned and announced by the prime minister,” he said.
On the proposal of the closure of air space for India, the spokesman said the issue was discussed at the highest level and was one of the many options being considered. “We can exercise it at the time of our choosing,” he said, adding that no final decision in this regard had been taken so far.
If invoking the jurisdiction of International Court of Justice was still on the cards following India’s changing of Kashmir status, he said it was a “delicate issue”, for which consultations were underway with all stakeholders.
The spokesman said Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi would visit Geneva next month to attend the meeting of Human Rights Council to highlight the issue of Kashmir.
He said former foreign secretary Tehmina Janjua as special envoy had already reached Geneva to prepare for extensive outreach to the international community on the Kashmir dispute.
On Pakistan’s stance on the current legal status of Kashmir after India abrogated Article 35A of its constitution, the spokesman said Pakistan still regarded it “a disputed territory”.
“We are very much clear, however, the hypocrisy and confusion are evident on the Indian side that shifts its stance frequently by sometimes calling it a bilateral matter and the other time an internal matter,” he said.
He said: “The position India has taken regarding the August 5 step is not tenable and Pakistan believes that implementation of the UNSC resolutions is the only option.”
“The resolution of Kashmir dispute rests with the UNSC resolutions only, no matter how long the struggle continues,” he added.
On providing consular access to Indian spy Kalbhushan Jhadav, he said: “Pakistan was actively in touch with the Indian government on this matter”.
The spokesman said Pakistan had given freedom to UN Military Observers Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) to monitor its side, however, mentioned that India had restricted the body’s movement to cover the human rights violations in Occupied Kashmir.
On negotiating process between the U.S. and Afghan Taliban in Qatar, he said Pakistan was making sincere efforts to facilitate the Afghan peace process.
The peace agreement between the stakeholders is in the final phase and Pakistan hopes early conclusion leading to peace and stability in Afghanistan, he added.
