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ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Monday termed the Uri army base attack in India-held Kashmir IHK) an 'inside job'.
Asif, in an appearance on DawnNews show 'News Eye', maintained that no proof implicating Pakistan in the attack had surfaced yet, alleging it was "evident" the attack was a plan devised by India itself.
Kulbushan Jhadav issue
When asked why Pakistan did not raise the issue of captured Indian spy Kulbhushan Jhadav when the Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj was terming Bahadur Ali a ‘living evidence’ on cross border terrorism against India in the UNGA, he said that they have been “raising the issue on a daily basis” for several months.
Also read: The India problem
“Not only Kulbhushan Jhadav but we also have Brahamdagh Bugti, to whom India issued a visa on a fake identity, as proof,” added Asif.
Anti-Pakistan bill
Commenting on the bill moved against Pakistan in the United States Congress, he said that anti-Pakistan elements are present in each and every country but the impacts of their voices depend on the policies of these countries.
"Five or 10 voices raised against us are not enough evidence to declare Pakistan a terrorist state," he said.
Asif added that the "entire world knows now that India is not as serious about resolving the Kashmir dispute as Pakistan is".
Read editorial: Pak-India media war
India has not received support from anywhere despite launching a diatribe against Pakistan, Asif said, adding that China had, on the other hand, support Pakistan's viewpoint.
Relations between the two nuclear-armed countries have been tense since India launched a diatribe against Pakistan in the aftermath of Uri attack in the India-held Kashmir, which resulted in the death of 18 Indian soldiers.
The attack occurred at a time when the Pakistani premier was going to raise the issue of human rights violations in Kashmir which were on a rise since the killing of a local militant leader Burhan Wani.
India's critisicm
Sushma Swaraj in her address on Monday challenged Pakistan "not to even dream of taking away Kashmir from India".
Citing the Uri and Pathankot attacks, she accused Pakistan of infiltration and also alleged that Pakistan has responded to India's friendship offers with cross-border terrorism.
Earlier this week, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also accused Pakistan of supporting terrorism.
Comparing both the countries he had stated, “On one hand India has been exporting software, while on other Pakistan supports terrorism.”
He had also threatened to isolate Pakistan within the global community.
PM Nawaz's UNGA address
On September 21, 2016, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in his address to the 71th session of the UNGA, said Pakistan was willing to keep peace and positive relations with neighbouring India but the goal could not be achieved without resolving the Kashmir issue.
