Naveed Siddiqui
ISLAMABAD: In response to the recent statements made by India’s Defence Minister on July 26, 2023, in Drass, Ladakh, boasting readiness to cross the Line of Control, Pakistan has issued a strong condemnation. The neighboring country warns that such belligerent rhetoric poses a threat to regional peace and stability and further destabilizes the strategic environment in South Asia.
This is not the first instance of India’s political leaders and senior military officers making irresponsible remarks concerning Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. Pakistan urges India to refrain from such jingoistic statements.
Pakistan emphasizes that it possesses the capability to defend itself against any aggression and rejects India’s attempts to drag Pakistan into its populist public discourse for the sake of hyper-nationalism and electoral gains.
Furthermore, Pakistan challenges India’s claims about Jammu and Kashmir, asserting that the region is an internationally-recognized disputed territory. The relevant UN Security Council resolutions mandate that the final disposition of the territory will be determined through the democratic method of a free and impartial plebiscite, conducted under the auspices of the United Nations. Pakistan calls on India to faithfully implement these resolutions rather than entertaining any notions of grandeur.
The situation continues to be closely monitored by the international community as tensions remain high between the two neighboring countries.
