Foreign Office has urged India to stop playing anti-Pakistan rhetoric in its domestic politics and conduct elections on its own internal policies. Speaking at his weekly news briefing in Islamabad today, Spokesperson, Dr Muhammad Faisal said that summoning of Pakistani High Commissioner by Indian Foreign Secretary over the phone call of Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi to Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, is just a political gimmickry and electioneering.

The Spokesperson said that Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua also summoned Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad today and lodged protest with him over last night summoning of our High Commissioner.

The Foreign Secretary stressed that the status of Jammu and Kashmir is internationally accepted as disputed territory, and Pakistan will continue to support Kashmiris in their just struggle for their inalienable right to self-determination.

The Foreign Office Spokesperson said as the Indian atrocities are continuing in Occupied Kashmir, Pakistan urges the international community to call upon India to stop bloodshed in Kashmir.

He said 5th February-Kashmir Solidarity Day is also commemorative of 26th year of detention of Dr Qasim Faktu, husband of Aasia Indrabi.

He said the detention of both in Indian jails on trumped-up charges is gross human rights violations by India.

Responding to a question about Afghan peace talks, the Foreign Office Spokesperson said that Pakistan, on the request of the United States and Afghanistan, facilitated the Afghan peace process and dialogue with the Taliban as a shared responsibility for peace in the region.

He said there are certain actors, who want perpetual conflict in the region for their vested interests, but Pakistan has urged United States, Afghanistan and Taliban to remain watchful of these detracting elements who are trying to undermine the nascent peace process.

To another question, Dr Muhammad Faisal said the announcement by Pakistan`s Prime Minister about keeping open the Torkham border is a major step to promote bilateral trade and people to people contacts with Afghanistan.

He said Pakistan has always emphasized the need for deepening bilateral relations with Afghanistan.

The Spokesperson said with the efforts of Pakistan`s embassy in Kabul and Consulate in Kandahar, a Pakistani prisoner Ejaz Shah has been released before seven months of completion of his sentence and has been handed over to Pakistani authorities by Afghanistan.

Replying to a question regarding use of Afghan soil for terrorist activities, the Spokesperson said India is callously continuing with state sponsored terrorism and it should alleviate Pakistan`s concerns regarding use of Afghan soil for launching terrorist attacks on Pakistani soil instead of leveling farfetched allegations against Islamabad.

To a question regarding Director of US Intelligence Daniel Coats` remarks about Pakistan in the context of terrorism, the Foreign Office Spokesperson said Pakistan has raised the issue with the United States that such controversial statements will be counterproductive and have the potential to adversely affect the peace and stability of the region.

Dr Faisal said Pakistan continues to play its constructive role for stabilizing the region and its efforts are being highly acknowledged by the US leadership.