Statement by the Spokesperson, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan

Islamabad:  9 March 2019: The Indian government and Indian media continue to spread disinformation to mislead the international community, and the Indian people, for domestic political gains, while trying to cover up its failures and resultant embarrassment. Pakistan, on the other hand, responded with maturity, responsibility and resolve in all domains including political, information and response to Indian act of military aggression. 

Pakistan has categorically rejected false Indian allegations about the Pulwama attack, which had indigenous origin, including the use of local explosives and vehicle, miles away from LOC. This explains it all. Notwithstanding all this, the Prime Minister of Pakistan offered cooperation in investigations and asked for actionable evidence from India, in response to which a “dossier” was received on 28 February 2019, a day after the second Indian violation of Pakistan’s airspace. The “dossier” is being examined and update on it will be shared in due course. Air intrusion and attempted strike near Balakot (KP) through Azad Jammu & Kashmir by IAF was in complete violation of relevant provisions of the UN Charter and international law, as it constituted unlawful use of force against the territory of Pakistan. Pakistan, exercising its right of reprisal, acted on 27 February 2019 from within Pakistani airspace displaying our capability, capacity and responsible attitude, by taking 6 strikes (4 targets) on non-civilian and non-military targets with clear intent not to cause any damage to life or infrastructure. 

On the other hand on 27 February 2019, IAF with belligerent intentions once again violated Pakistan’s air space. Pakistan in exercise of its right of self defence under the UN Charter exercised the legitimate use of force while staying within its air space, against two Indian aircrafts that had intruded into Pakistani air space. As a consequence, both Indian aircraft were successfully shot down by Pakistan Air Force. False claims of an Indian aircraft having shot down a Pakistani F16 are completely baseless, meant only to satisfy Indian domestic audience, but in the process they also exposed their lies one after another. 

In contrast to Pakistan’s sincere efforts to pacify the situation, India’s belligerent tone still continues motivated by domestic political considerations and electoral calculations. The Prime Minister of Pakistan returned the Indian pilot as a gesture of peace, which was welcomed and appreciated by the international community, with the sole exception of the Indian Government. 

The government of Pakistan urges the international community to stop Indian Government from committing heinous human rights violations (documented in the OHCHR Report of June 2018) and brutalities such as rape, blinding of women, children and youth through use of pellet guns, forced exodus for demographic re-configuration, to suppress indigenous movement in IoK, on the pretext of “counter-terrorism” measures. 

Pakistan stands in full support- moral, political, diplomatic- as well as in solidarity with the people of Indian occupied Jammu & Kashmir in their legitimate struggle for their right to self-determination and desires peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the aspirations of people of Jammu and Kashmir, as enshrined in the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions. 

Regarding Indian allegations on terrorism, the whole world recognizes Pakistan’s successful fight against terrorism. Having tackled the direct threat of terrorism, the efforts to root out extremism are underway since 2014 through National Action Plan. The linking of ongoing efforts in this regard to Pulwama is part of the Indian agenda for domestic political gains.