New Delhi: Reacting to recent remarks made by US President Donald Trump who has once again offered to ‘help’ in resolving the Kashmir issue between India and Pakistan, New Delhi on Thursday ruled out any third-party mediation, adding that ‘the onus is on Pakistan to create a conducive atmosphere free from terror and violence.”
India also accused Pakistan of being “frustrated” as its “double standards” on the issue of terrorism had been exposed, pointing out that Islamabad should take “credible action” against terror groups operating from its soil instead of making “alarmist” and factually wrong claims.
At his weekly briefing, MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, “We have seen President Trump’s remarks (in Davos, Switzerland). Our position on the Kashmir issue has been clear and consistent. Let me once again reiterate that there is no role for any third party in this matter. If at all there are any bilateral issues between India and Pakistan to be discussed, it should be done bilaterally under the provisions of Simla Agreement and the Lahore Declaration. The onus is on Pakistan to create a conducive atmosphere free from terror and violence.”
Lashing out at Islamabad, he added, “We have seen reports about certain remarks on India and India-Pakistan relations made by Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan at Davos. We are hardly surprised by the content and tone of his remarks. They are not only factually inaccurate and contradictory, but also demonstrate a growing sense of frustration. Pakistan has to realise that the global community has seen through this double-standard of playing the victim card in their fight against terror on the one hand, and supporting terror groups targeting India and other countries on the other.”
The MEA spokesperson further said, “If Pakistan is indeed serious for a peaceful and normal relationship with India as he claims, the onus is on Pakistan to create a conducive atmosphere. They have to take credible, irreversible and verifiable action against terror groups operating from its soil rather than making misleading and alarmist statements to divert the attention of international community.”
Asked about media reports that Pakistan may have made some progress to fulfil its obligations as mandated by global anti-terror watchdog Financial Action Task Force (FATF) , Raveesh said that deliberations at meetings of the global body were confidential and that New Delhi would wait for the FATF to make a formal statement.
