FO again urges world to make India accountable for its actions

Published January 22, 2021
FO spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri addresses a press conference. — DawnNewsTV/File
FO spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri addresses a press conference. — DawnNewsTV/File

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday urged the international community to take note of Indian actions that undermine regional stability.

“We hope the international community would take full cognisance of the situation and hold India accountable for its actions (that are) vitiating the regional environment and endangering peace and security in South Asia,” Foreign Office Spokesman Zahid Chaudhri said at the weekly media briefing.

His comment was in the context of the published transcript of WhatsApp chats between Indian TV anchor Arnab Goswami and head of an Indian ratings company Partho Dasgupta, which suggested that Goswami knew in advance about Delhi’s plan to conduct a surgical strike inside Pakistan in February 2019.

The chats were submitted as evidence by Mumbai police in an ongoing investigation into manipulation of television ratings in India.

The spokesman said that “irresponsible and irrational policies and actions of the current RSS-BJP regime in India” were severely imperiling regional peace and security.

He recalled that Pakistan government had regularly been pointing out that India’s BJP government staged “false flag” operations; maligned Pakistan with terrorism-related allegations; stoked hyper-nationalism in the country and used it for petty political gains.

The transcript showed that when Goswami told Dasgupta, three days before the Balakot attack, that “something big will happen”, the latter replied: “It’s good for big man in this season… He will sweep polls then.”

Biden administration

Welcoming the inauguration of Joe Biden, the spokesman said Pakistan looked forward to working with the new administration.

He said Prime Minister Imran Khan had congratulated President Biden on the occasion of his inauguration.

PM Khan had stated that Pakistan was looking forward to working with Mr Biden in building a stronger Pakistan-United States partnership through trade and economic engagement; countering climate change; improving public health; combating corruption; and promoting peace in the region and beyond.

Published in Dawn, January 22nd, 2021

Opinion

Editorial

Weathering the storm
Updated 29 Apr, 2024

Weathering the storm

Let 2024 be the year when we all proactively ensure that our communities are safeguarded and that the future is secure against the inevitable next storm.
Afghan repatriation
29 Apr, 2024

Afghan repatriation

COMPARED to the roughshod manner in which the caretaker set-up dealt with the issue, the elected government seems a...
Trying harder
29 Apr, 2024

Trying harder

IT is a relief that Pakistan managed to salvage some pride. Pakistan had taken the lead, then fell behind before...
Return to the helm
Updated 28 Apr, 2024

Return to the helm

With Nawaz Sharif as PML-N president, will we see more grievances being aired?
Unvaxxed & vulnerable
Updated 28 Apr, 2024

Unvaxxed & vulnerable

Even deadly mosquito-borne illnesses like dengue and malaria have vaccines, but they are virtually unheard of in Pakistan.
Gaza’s hell
Updated 28 Apr, 2024

Gaza’s hell

Perhaps Western ‘statesmen’ may moderate their policies if a significant percentage of voters punish them at the ballot box.