Reiterating India’s long-held position on the status of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), the External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar while addressing the media stated that PoK is, has and always remain an integral part of India and one day India will exercise physical jurisdiction over it.
EAM S. Jaishankar: PoK (Pakistan Occupied Kashmir) is a part of India and we expect one day we will have physical jurisdiction over it. pic.twitter.com/9XUVAbnVor
— ANI (@ANI) September 17, 2019
Jaishankar made it amply clear that with regards to Pakistan, the issue to be up for discussion and deliberation is not Article 370 but terrorism emanating from their country. He asserted that there isn’t a single country in the world which so overtly engages in promoting terrorism in another country and considers it as an important pillar of its foreign policy.
EAM:Regarding minorities in Pak,this isn’t a new thing. Here’s a country which is waxing eloquent about other nations. Look at their treatment of minorities,I think minority no.have come down dramatically in last 70 yrs to a point where they don’t even put it out publicly anymore pic.twitter.com/u1YUG0dFRi
— ANI (@ANI) September 17, 2019
Slamming Pakistan for its horrifying treatment of minorities, EAM said that Pakistan is a nation that indulges in passing sanctimonious sermons to other nations while not following them itself. “Regarding the treatment meted out to minorities in Pakistan is not a new thing. You have a country that is waxing eloquent to other nations while the number of minorities have drastically come down in their own country in the last 70 years to such a dismal level that they don’t even bother putting out the number of minorities any longer,” Jaishankar said.
Furthermore, drawing attention towards the situation in Sindh province of Pakistan, S. Jaishankar asserted that if human rights audit is carried out in this part of the world, he is pretty sure who would emerge last on the list, referring to Pakistan for its grave human rights violations in Sindh and Balochistan.
EAM: We had to look at a variety of factors & see what’s the importance you put at this time to ascertaining his well being. We thought ascertaining his well being is a priority issue at this point & we wanted to begin proceedings however unsatisfactory they may be. https://t.co/zbUS1y3gfX
— ANI (@ANI) September 17, 2019
The External Affairs Minister also spoke about Kulbhushan Jadhav, who is currently lodged in a jail in Pakistan. Jaishankar said that seeking access to Kulbhushan was a top priority in ascertaining his well-being and providing the remedy that has been mandated by the ICJ. Taking a swipe at Pakistan, Jaishankar said that whether the Pakistanis carried out the order as mandated by ICJ in letter and spirit is obvious to all.
On issue of the recent face-off between Indian and Chinese soldiers near Pangong Lake in Ladakh, Jaishankar categorically refuted the rumours of skirmishes between the armed forces of the two countries. He said because of the differing perception of line of control, there was a face-off which was resolved through appropriate mechanism that are in place to solve such disputes.
With regards to President Trump attending Howdy Modi event at Houston, EAM Jaishankar hailed it as a great achievement of the Indian-American community in America and lauded the community for how it is regarded in the US, the respect it commands there.
In the matter related to the extradition of hate speech peddler Zakir Naik, EAM S. Jaishankar claimed that the government wants him back and is working towards that end.
