‘Grow up’, Pakistan’s foreign office to Indian media over anti-Imran campaign

ISLAMABAD - Foreign Office spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal on Thursday said the Indian media needs to “grow up” while responding to the neighbouring country’s criticism of PM-in waiting Imran Khan.

Since the PTI chairman’s landslide victory in last month’s general elections, Indian media has launched a campaign against cricket-turned-politician with several Indian media outlets claiming that victory of Imran Khan can create serious problems for India in the region.

Going step ahead, they accused Imran Khan of using anti-Indian slogans to garner support for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). They further accused that 65-year-old politician supports banned militant outfits. Worried by his possible victory, Indian channels tagged Khan as ‘Taliban Khan’.

“India is involved in stoking terrorism in different parts of Pakistan and the arrest of Kulbushan Yadav is ample evidence in this regard." Dr Faisal said in response to another question.

“I was saddened in the last few days, how the media in India portrayed me as a Bollywood film villain. It seemed like India feared everything bad would happen if Imran Khan came into power. I am the Pakistani who has the most familiarity with India, I have been all over that country,” Imran Khan had said in his victory speech last month.

https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/pakistan/imran-khan-desires-pakistans-stronger-ties-with-neighbouring-iran-and-india/

“I think it will be very good for all of us if we have good relations with India. We need to have trade ties, and the more we will trade, both countries will benefit. The unfortunate truth is that Kashmir is a core issue, and the situation in Kashmir, and what the people of Kashmir have seen in the last 30 years .... they have really suffered.

“Pakistan and India's leadership should sit at a table and try to fix this problem. It's not going anywhere. We are at square one right now [with India]. If India's leadership is ready, we are ready to improve ties with India. If you step forward one step, we will take two steps forward.

“I say this with conviction, this will be the most important thing for the subcontinent, for both countries to have friendship,” Khan added.

Indian atrocities in occupied Kashmir

Strongly condemning Indian brutalities in occupied Kashmir, the spokesperson urged New Delhi to permit the UN commission of inquiry to visit the occupied valley and find facts on the ground.

“India is carrying out ceasefire violations on the Line of Control to divert world attention from its atrocities in occupied Kashmir,” he said.

Further, Dr Faisal asserted, “Pakistan is ready to host the SAARC summit at the earliest so that the matters can move forward.”

Regarding Afghanistan, the FO spokesperson said, “Pakistan and Afghanistan are engaged in developing a time bound repatriation plan for early and complete return of Afghan refugees to their homeland.”

“An Afghan delegation will soon be visiting Islamabad for consultations,” he added.

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Responding to a question, the spokesperson rejected as ‘baseless’ Afghan officials’ allegations that elements from Pakistan were involved in a recent terror attack in Ghazni. “There is no evidence to back up the spurious accusations,” he said.

“Pakistan has always supported an Afghan led and Afghan owned peace process and it will welcome any ceasefire agreement between the parties there,” Dr Faisal asserted.

Further, speaking about the delegation of Financial Action Task Force (FATF) which is currently visiting the country, Dr Faisal said Ministry of Finance officials are working with them.

The FATF delegation is in Islamabad to review the implementation of an action plan it issued earlier this year.

The delegation, comprising members of Asia Pacific Group on Money Laundering, is visiting to have a detailed review of a report submitted to the global watchdog by Islamabad.

In June, Pakistan was formally added to the grey list of countries involved in providing monetary assistance to terrorism and related causes after a FATF meeting in Paris.

According to FATF’s statement, following the decision Pakistan had committed to “address its strategic counter-terrorist financing-related deficiencies”.