While countering former US President Woodrow Wilson in 1923, then US Secretary of State Charles Evans had said: “Foreign policies are not built upon abstractions”.
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“The Prime Minister strongly pleaded the case of Kashmir during General Assembly session past year and we will again forcefully raise the issue”, Foreign Office Spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said. “You can ask some other countries in the region too”.
In the interview with WSJ, Fatemi said that Kashmir was an global dispute, whereas Balochistan was internal.
“The letter emphasizes the global duty of the nations, India and Pakistan, to conclude the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, in accordance with the U.N. Security Council resolutions”, the statement said.
“The Indian government fully supports the ongoing insurgency in Balochistan”, Zehri alleged, adding “it is deeply involved in sponsoring elements like Brahamdagh Bugti, Haerbyar Marri, Zamran Marri and Allah Nazar”.
Addressing a rally held under the banner of “Defence Council of Pakistan” in Karachi on Sunday, Saeed had claimed, “Kashmiris had announced before the partition that they wanted to remain with Pakistan”.
The Pakistani government is said to be facing strong hostility among the people of Balochistan ever since the country came into existence in 1947. Pakistan’s record of cross-border terrorism and infiltration were central to the problems in Balochistan. It conveyed Jaishankar’s acceptance of his Pakistani counterpart’s invitation to visit Islamabad “but made it clear that naturally, the discussions should focus first on the more pressing aspects of the J&K situation”, foreign ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup said.
An Indian embassy representative in Islamabad on Wednesday handed over a letter to the government that said New Delhi would talk about “current and relevant” issues – but not Kashmir.
Indian-ruled Kashmir has witnessed violent protests since July 8, when security forces killed a field commander of Pakistan-based Islamist militant group Hizbul Mujahideen who enjoyed widespread support in the Muslim-majority region.
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“Modi should first stand accountable to the worldwide community for unending and perpetual atrocities against Kashmiris, Muslims and Dalits in Kashmir and in India”, said Bilawal, chairman of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). The very fact that India responded to the letter of Pakistan Foreign Secretary within no time is itself a manifestation of the Indian desire to defuse anti-Modi sentiments. “I can not at this stage share with you”.
