Pakistan Reaction: Pakistan has lodged a strong protest against the joint statement issued between India and Afghanistan in New Delhi on October 10. In this statement, Pakistan has expressed strong objection to declaring Jammu and Kashmir as a part of India and has called it a violation of the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council.

In a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry of Pakistan, it was said that declaring Jammu and Kashmir as a part of India is a clear violation of the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and the legal status of Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan said that this joint statement of India and Afghanistan is extremely insensitive towards the sacrifices of the people of Kashmir and their fight for the right to self-determination.

Expressed protest by summoning Afghanistan’s ambassador

Pakistan summoned Afghanistan’s ambassador to Islamabad regarding this joint statement and formally registered its serious concerns. Additional Secretary (West Asia and Afghanistan) of Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry told the Ambassador that calling Jammu and Kashmir a part of India is unacceptable.

Pakistan-Afghanistan also clash over terrorism

In the joint statement, Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaki had said that terrorism is an internal problem of Pakistan. Pakistan has also reacted sharply to this statement. Pakistan termed Muttaki’s statement as beyond facts and irresponsible. The Foreign Ministry said that Pakistan has told the Afghan government several times that terrorist elements named “Fitna-e-Khawarij” and “Fitna-e-Hindustan” are working against Pakistan from Afghan soil.

The statement said that by putting the responsibility on terrorism on Pakistan, the interim Afghan government cannot be freed from its responsibilities. “Afghanistan’s land should not be used against Pakistan.”

Also raised the issue of return of Afghan refugees

Pakistan also said in its statement that it has been hosting about four million Afghans for four decades. Now that peace is returning to Afghanistan, Afghans living in Pakistan without permission should return to their country. The Foreign Ministry said that Pakistan has the right to control the presence of foreign nationals within its border, and this is in line with international norms. Along with this, Pakistan claimed that it is also issuing medical and study visas to Afghans from humanitarian point of view and will continue to provide assistance to the Afghan people in the spirit of Islamic brotherhood.

‘We want a stable and prosperous Afghanistan’

The statement said that Pakistan wants to see a peaceful, stable and regionally connected prosperous Afghanistan. In this spirit, Pakistan has provided trade, economic and connectivity facilities to Afghanistan. However, Pakistan made it clear that its first responsibility is the safety of its citizens and Afghanistan will have to take concrete steps to stop its territory from being used by anti-Pakistan terrorist elements.

Muttaki said- Pakistan should solve its own problems

Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaki, who is visiting India, said on Pakistan’s objections after the joint statement of India and Afghanistan, ‘We understand that Pakistan has done wrong. Problems are not solved this way. We have kept the doors open for talks, but Pakistan should solve its own problems. The Foreign Minister of Afghanistan also said that peace has come in Afghanistan after 40 years and this attitude of Pakistan is not right. This statement has proved uncomfortable for Pakistan, due to which it has become nervous.

India and Afghanistan had condemned the Pahalgam terrorist attack.

It is noteworthy that in a joint statement issued on October 10, India and Afghanistan had condemned the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir on April 22, in which 26 people were killed. Both countries condemned terrorism in all its forms and stressed the need to enhance peace, stability and mutual trust in the region.

Just a day after the joint statement issued to strengthen bilateral relations between India and Afghanistan, Pakistan has expressed strong objection. Pakistan not only expressed displeasure over some parts of the joint statement, but also reacted sharply to the statements made by Afghanistan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaki during his visit to India.

Pakistan expressed objection on the mention of Kashmir

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said that describing Jammu and Kashmir as a part of India in the joint statement is a clear violation of the relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council. Pakistan has formally expressed its serious objections to both India and Afghanistan on this. Pakistan has also given this objection to the Additional Foreign Secretary (West Asia and Afghanistan).

In an India-Afghanistan joint statement issued on October 10, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had thanked Afghanistan for strongly condemning the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22. Both countries condemned all forms of terrorism and stressed the need to enhance peace, stability and mutual trust in the region.

Pakistan enraged by Muttaki’s statements

Apart from the joint statement, Pakistan also objected to the statement of Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in which he had said that terrorism is an internal problem of Pakistan. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said that it had already informed Afghanistan that many terrorist organizations were attacking Pakistan from Afghan soil. The ministry said that the Afghan interim government cannot escape its responsibility by putting the responsibility on Pakistan. It is the responsibility of Afghanistan to maintain peace and stability in the region.

Muttaki held Pakistan responsible

It is noteworthy that just before his visit to India, Muttaki had held Pakistan responsible for the blasts in Afghanistan. He had said, “We consider this action of Pakistan wrong. Problems are not solved like this. We have kept the door of dialogue open. Peace and development have returned to Afghanistan after 40 years.”

Pakistan’s statement on illegal Afghan citizens

Amidst this controversy, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry also said that illegal Afghan citizens cannot be allowed to live in the country. The ministry clarified that it is Pakistan’s right to control the presence of foreign nationals.

This was the first time that the Afghan Foreign Minister visited India after the Taliban came to power in 2021. In New Delhi on Friday, he met Foreign Minister S. Met Jaishankar. During the meeting, Muttaki assured that Afghanistan will not allow its land to be used against any country.

Muttaki said, “I am happy to come to Delhi. This visit will increase understanding and cooperation between India and Afghanistan. Both the countries should further strengthen their relations and dialogue. We will not allow any group to misuse our soil.”

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