Act of India driven by toxic mix of extremist Hindutva ideology: FO

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal has said on Thursday that act of India is driven by a toxic mix of extremist Hindutva ideology and hegemonic ambitions in the region. At his weekly press briefing in Islamabad on Thursday – commenting on the Indian citizenship legislation – the FO spokesperson also said that Pakistan and other regional countries have condemned it. He highlighted that voices are also being raised within and outside India against the discriminatory legislation. Humanitarian nightmare worsening in IoK Voicing concerns over the situation in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IoK), Dr Muhammad Faisal said the humanitarian nightmare is worsening in the valley with continued military lockdown and complete communications blackout. He said that this is affecting the life and property of millions of Kashmiri people who have been cut off from the rest of the world. Dr Faisal said India should immediately restore internet and mobile phone services, release all the prisoners and remove all the draconian laws. He said India should allow international media and human rights observers to visit IoK to independently observe the situation there. Blacklisting of former Malir SSP Rao Anwar To a question about the blacklisting of former Malir SSP Rao Anwar by the US, the spokesperson said Rao Anwar is under trial for the crime he has committed. He expressed his surprise that the US treasury department failed to hold anyone responsible for the most egregious, extensively reported and independently verified human rights violations in IoK. Pakistan welcomes resumption of US, Afghan Taliban’s direct talks To another question, the FO spokesperson said Pakistan has welcomed the resumption of direct talks between the US and the Afghan Taliban.  He said Pakistan has always held that there is no military solution to the conflict in Afghanistan. “We hope the peace process is concluded soon and leads to an intra-afghan dialogue and reduction of violence in Afghanistan,” Dr Faisal. He said that Pakistan will continue to support all peaceful efforts there. He further said it is important to remain watchful of the role of spoilers who do not want to see an end to the conflict in Afghanistan. Pakistan condemns assassination of Japanese physician The FO spokesperson strongly denounced the assassination of Japanese physician and devoted aid worker Tetsu Nakamura in Afghanistan.  He said Nakamura changed the lives of thousands of Afghan people and his work has been recognized internationally. “We share the grief and pain of the Afghan and Japanese people in this tragic incident,” he said. He said at this critical juncture, it can only be the work of spoilers who do not want to see a peaceful and stable Afghanistan. FM’s visit to Saudi Arabia scheduled Responding to the question about Foreign Minister (FM) Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s visit to Saudi Arabia, he said it was a scheduled visit and focused on bilateral matters and regional developments. He said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have brotherly relations deep rooted in history and based on mutual trust and understanding. Pakistan expresses desire for early holding of SAARC Summit Pakistan has expressed the desire for an early holding of SAARC Summit to promote regional cooperation. He also said all the other South Asian countries except one have also expressed the desire of early happening of the summit. He said the 19th SAARC summit will be held in Islamabad and it is to be seen whether India wants to move forward on SAARC.