In a joint statement on Friday, the Foreign Office rejected the charges against Pakistan that the United States and India had made, calling them “one-sided, misleading, and contrary to diplomatic norms.”
The joint statement followed a day earlier’s White House meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump. It accused Pakistan of “supporting extremism” and brought up the country’s purported role in the 2008 Mumbai attack.”We consider the Pakistan-specific reference in the Indo-US joint statement of Feb 13 as one-sided, misleading, and contrary to diplomatic norms,” FO spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said in response to the accusations during a weekly news conference.
“Despite Pakistan’s counterterrorism cooperation with the United States, we are surprised that the reference was included in the joint statement.””Such references cannot conceal India’s support of terrorism, subversion, and extrajudicial killings in the region and beyond, nor can they divert international attention from the brutal fact that India serves as a safe haven for those who commit hate crimes against Muslims and other minorities,” he added.
The FO spokeswoman noted that the statement did not acknowledge the “grim human rights situation” in Jammu and Kashmir or address India’s disregard for UN Security Council resolutions, “which is the key source of tension and instability in the region.”
Unfortunately, this amounts to a rejection of global responsibility. Pakistan’s efforts and sacrifices in the battle against terrorism are acknowledged by the entire community,” he stated.Pakistan, a nation severely impacted by terrorism, would keep supporting regional and international initiatives to advance peace and stability in the area. It is still dedicated to eradicating this evil from the earth in order to rationally conclude the war against terrorism.
“Pakistan is also steadfast in its resolve to pursue counterterrorism initiatives and tackle the problem of terrorism, including acts of terrorism carried out by foreign actors.”
Concern over the US decision to boost military sales to India was also voiced by the spokeswoman.
The anticipated transfer of military technology to India is another issue that Pakistan is extremely worried about. Such actions jeopardize strategic stability and highlight regional military asymmetries. They continue to be ineffective in bringing about enduring peace in South Asia,” Khan stated.
During a press conference with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, President Donald Trump said that the United States had authorized the extradition of a suspect in the 2008 militant attacks in Mumbai, India’s financial center, which claimed the lives of over 160 people.
On November 26, 2008, three days of attacks on hotels, a rail station, and a Jewish center started, killing 166 people. India claims that Lashkar-e-Taiba, a proscribed organization based in Pakistan, planned the attacks. The government of Pakistan denies any involvement.
I’m happy to report that my administration has authorized the extradition of one of the world’s most heinous conspirators and terrorists involved in the horrifying 2008 Mumbai assault so that he can face justice in India. Thus, he is heading Islamabad was also urged to “bring to justice those accused of extremist attacks against India and prevent its territory from being used for extremism,” according to the joint India-US statement.
The claims that Pakistan supports extremist activities have been consistently rejected as baseless.
The US Supreme Court denied Rana’s review petition against his extradition late this month.
Rana previously received a federal prison sentence in the United States for aiding and abetting the Lashkar-e-Taiba.
During the press conference, Trump was also questioned about Sikh separatists in the US, whom India claims pose a security danger. Sikh separatists want India to be divided into Khalistan, an independent homeland.
Trump stated that the US and India collaborated on combating crime, but he did not directly address the subject.India has been accused of targeting Sikh separatists in the US and Canada since 2023, which has caused tensions between the US and India. Washington has accused an ex-Indian intelligence officer of being involved in a US plot that was thwarted. India claims to be looking into US claims.
