The Foreign Office on Thursday confirmed that India has concurred to Pakistan’s proposal of holding next technical meeting on Kartarpur Corridor on August 30 at the Zero Point designated area of the border.
Foreign Office Spokesman Dr Faisal told a weekly press briefing that notwithstanding the current tense situation with India, Pakistan will continue the process of opening of Kartarpur Corridor. “Pakistan remains committed to completing and inaugurating its side of the corridor as planned and announced by the prime minister,” he said.
On proposal of closure of airspace for India, the spokesman said the matter has been discussed at the highest level and is one of the many options being considered. “We can exercise it at the time of our choosing,” he said, adding that no final decision in this regard has been taken so far.
To a question that if invoking the jurisdiction of International Court of Justice is still on the cards following India stripping Kashmir of special status, he said it is a ‘delicate issue’, for which consultations are underway with all the stakeholders.
The spokesman said Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi will visit Geneva next month to attend the meeting of Human Rights Council to highlight the issue of Kashmir. He said former foreign secretary Tehmina Janjua has already reached Geneva as special envoy to prepare for an extensive outreach to international community on the Kashmir dispute.
On Pakistan’s stance on the current legal status of Kashmir after India abrogated Article 35A of its constitution, the spokesman said Pakistan still regards it a ‘disputed territory’.
Dr Faisal said Kashmir is not India’s internal matter but an international issue. He said Pakistan has not gone on the back foot on bilateralism. “Indian occupying forces have been deployed at every corner in the valley as the clampdown enters its fourth week,” he said. “We are curious as to why the Hurriyat leaders continue to be detained in Indian-held Kashmir. On Wednesday, we called the Indian high commissioner and lodged our protest against the atrocities in the valley,” he said. “The Indian hypocrisy is at an all-time high. Kashmir is not an internal matter but has now become an international issue,” he said. “The Kashmir issue should be solved keeping in mind the UNSC resolutions. At home, India calls Kashmir an internal issue while outside they call it a bilateral issue. India is not ready for bilateral talks. India can keep saying whatever it wants to. It will not change the truth,” he asserted. On the subject of Afghan peace process, Dr Faisal said Pakistan has always supported the peace process in Afghanistan. “The peace agreement between the US and Taliban is in its final phase and we are hopeful to see its early and positive conclusion leading to peace and security in Afghanistan. Pakistan will continue to work to help take peace efforts in Afghanistan to its logical conclusion,” he added.
