KARACHI: The US-India joint statement, which called on Pakistan to crack down on extremists that target New Delhi, on Saturday prompted condemnations from the opposition PTI as well.

A day earlier, the joint statement drew a sharp response from Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, with the Foreign Office terming it “unwarranted, one-sided, and misleading”.

On Saturday, former prime minister Imran Khan and ex-foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi also joined the chorus of voices denouncing the US-India statement.

Talking to Voice of America, Mr Khan said the statement accused Pakistan of terrorism, without mentioning the atrocities being carried out in India.

“Where is their diplomacy,” he asked the incumbent government, saying that his government was accused of isolating Pakistan in the global community, but the current government was faring no better.

His deputy, Mr Qureshi — who has served as foreign minister under two governments — noted that the US president and Indian prime minister did not utter a word over the human rights violations committed by New Delhi. Speaking to media personnel outside the court in Islamabad, he labelled the statem­ent “unwarranted and misleading”.

“No voice was raised over the oppression of Muslims in Indian-held Kashmir. It is saddening to witness the silence of human rights organisations over such a crucial matter,” Mr Qureshi said.

Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2023