ISLAMABAD, Aug 15: Pakistan on Thursday rejected the allegations of cross-border terrorism hurled by Indian prime minister in his speech on the Independence Day of India.

Such accusations were routinely levelled by the Indian leaders to cover up the reign of terror let loose by the Indian security forces in the Indian Occupied Kashmir, a foreign office spokesman said.

In the face of India’s own sordid record of fomenting terrorism across South Asia during the past several decades, he described the Indian prime minister’s reference to ‘double standard’ as hypocritical.

He also took exception to the Indian prime minister’s assertion that Jammu and Kashmir was an integral part of India. This statement, he said, was contrary to international legality as reflected in the relevant UN Security Council Resolution on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.

Such a statement reflected India’s colonial mindset, its disregard for morality, and its intention to persist with its illegal control over the Indian-Occupied Kashmir through brute force. This Indian attitude was the principal impediment in the way of a peaceful and just settlement of the Kashmir dispute.

He reiterated Pakistan’s rejection of the election being planned for the Indian-Occupied Kashmir. Besides, the illegitimate nature of this exercise, all such elections had been blatantly rigged in the past and had been rejected by the Kashmiri people.

He questioned the credibility of an election conducted in the presence of 700,000 strong Indian occupation force with license to kill. He pointed out that despite enormous Indian pressure, the APHC had refused to take part in the fraudulent elections.

However, he welcomed India’s desire to live with Pakistan as a good neighbour and Mr Vajpayee’s observation about resolving the dispute through talks.

He emphasized that Pakistan had already made repeated offers to India for the resumption of a meaningful dialogue to resolve all outstanding disputes, including Kashmir.