WASHINGTON (News pulse)Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States Asad Majeed Khan said on Tuesday that India’s aggressive and unilateral actions have further deteriorated the regional tensions in South Asia.
While speaking to Fox News channel in the U.S., the ambassador stated: “Unilaterally changing the status of a region which has been seen by the international community over the years as a disputed territory … has really put the region at the verge of a serious conflict.”
“Pakistan will not compromise on its autonomy and fully reserves the right to respond if its sovereignty is challenged.”
“They are trying to rewrite history and they have tried to deprive a people of their identity. And they have unilaterally tried to settle an issue which has been there on the UN agenda for almost 70 years.”
When asked about how Pakistan can de-escalate the situation, the ambassador responded: “I think the provocation clearly has come from India […] Prime Minister Imran was here. He spoke to you personally. He also met President Trump at the White House. And we’ve been very consistent in making all the overtures for peace to India. Unfortunately, all those gestures have not been reciprocated.”
Ambassador added, “It is for the United Nations… it is for friends like the United States and other international players – they need to intervene.”
“In fact, President Trump offered to mediate when Prime Minister [Imran Khan] met him during his recent visit to Washington […] while India has not accepted that […] and that basically explains the whole crux of that problem,” he mentioned.
When he was asked about how much closer was Pakistan to actual war with India today as compared to just two weeks ago, the ambassador replied: “We hope we don’t have to go that far I think but…India actually escalated the Line of Control, used cluster ammunitions…and that is a situation Pakistan has said time and again that we will act with restraint and responsibility…but if our territory and sovereignty is violated…we reserve the right to respond in a befitting manner.”
Asad Majeed urged the United Nations Organisation (UNO), America and the entire world to take a serious note of India’s oppression in Jammu and Kashmir and blatant violation of human rights.