Foreign Office has strongly rejected the allegations made by the Indian Army Chief against Pakistan on Friday morning.

In her opening statement at the weekly news briefing in Islamabad on Friday, Foreign Office Spokesperson Aisha Farooqui termed those allegations as irresponsible, false and spurious.

She said these baseless Indian allegations are patently designed to divert global and domestic attention from India's state-terrorism and egregious human rights violations and clamping of fundamental freedoms in occupied Jammu and Kashmir particularly post August 5, 2019.

The spokesperson reminded that Indian forces this year alone have committed over 765 ceasefire violations resulting in martyrdom of 3 civilians as well as serious injuries to 54 innocent civilians. In 2019, India violated the ceasefire agreement 3351 times. She said Pakistan continues to respond to Indian belligerence in a firm and responsible manner.

The spokesperson asked India to respect the 2003 ceasefire understanding and maintain peace along the line of control in the interest of regional peace and security. She said India must also allow the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) to play its mandated role as per the UN Security Council Resolutions.

  Aisha Farooqui said whilst the world grapples with the coronavirus, over nine hundred thousand Indian occupation forces are continuing their atrocities against Kashmiri people.  She said RSS inspired BJP government is busy exploiting international focus on the COVID-19 pandemic to pursue its exclusionary Hindutva agenda.

The spokesperson said Pakistan is particularly concerned over continued restrictions on movement and information in occupied Jammu and Kashmir despite growing number of confirmed Covid-19 cases and resulting fatalities. She said internet restrictions have prevented dissemination of information and impeded containment and relief efforts in the occupied territory.  The blockade has compromised supply of critical medical equipment and medicines. Children are unable to avail virtual education unlike the rest of the world due to unprecedented blockade of 4G internet.

Aisha Farooqui said The Prime Minister's global initiative for debt relief for developing countries has found resonance internationally, and various announcements have been made by multilateral institutions such as the UN, IMF and World Bank subsequently.  She said Pakistan has welcomed G-20 countries' call to drive forward international economic cooperation towards sustained and inclusive global economic recovery.

The Spokesperson appreciated the assistance and equipment being provided by the IAEA to Pakistan to help fight coronavirus.

She said a comprehensive and phased repatriation plan for our nationals from different countries is underway. So far, 2287 stranded Pakistanis have been repatriated home through 12 PIA special flights from Doha, Dubai, Bangkok, Istanbul, London, Baku, Tashkent, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.

Replying a question about Indian Military official's allegation that the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency targeted Indian fishermen on board the fishing boats, she said that the allegation is baseless and Pakistan as a matter of policy does not target civilians or fishermen and abides by all bilateral understandings and international conventions.  She said that India has been violating the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding, in complete disregard of International Human Rights and International law. The total number of cease fire violations for the past 4 years is 7766.

Responding a question about chance of restoring diplomatic relations up to High Commissioners level between Pakistan and India, Aisha Farooqui said Pakistan has always wanted good relations with all neighbouring countries, including India, but the illegal and unilateral Indian action of August last year and continuing restrictions and human rights violations in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir have vitiated the environment.

She said India needs to create enabling environment for a meaningful engagement that could lead to resolution of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people and the United Nations Security Council Resolutions.

The Spokesperson said Pakistan has no desire to escalate the situation and reacted with maximum restraint. She said that Pakistan continuously urged the international community to take notice of Indian provocations; however, Pakistan's armed Forces remain ready to defend the mother land against any threat.

Replying to a question about arrest of ISIS-K leader Farooqi by Afghan authorities, the Foreign Office Spokesperson said the Afghan Ambassador to Pakistan was called to the Foreign Office on 9th of this month and conveyed Pakistan's views in this regard on 5th of this month.

She emphasized that Pakistan has been expressing its concerns over the activities of ISIS-K group, which is detrimental to Pakistan. Pakistan's position in this regard has been regularly shared with the Government of Afghanistan and others concerned.

The Spokesperson underlined that the Pakistan and Afghanistan should coordinate actions against the menace of terrorism, including through established mechanisms. She further said dates for the next meeting of Afghanistan Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS) are being worked out between both the sides.

When asked to comment on a military sale of 10 AGM-84L Harpoon Block II Air Launched Missiles by US to India, she said the sale of such missile systems, along with technical assistance and logistic support at the time when there is a global effort to fight the pandemic is particularly disturbing. She said Pakistan has articulated its concerns regarding the sale of sophisticated weapons to India which would further destabilize the region.  T

The Spokesperson further said Pakistan has alerted the international community many times about India's aggressive designs not only towards Pakistan but also towards other neighbouring countries in South Asia. This will destabilize the already volatile situation in South Asia. She said there is a high possibility of India conducting a false flag operation while global efforts are directed towards combating the pandemic.

Replying to another question about Pak-China's cooperation on Covid-19, she said both the countries are All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partners as Islamabad and Beijing have the finest traditions to stand by each other particularly in challenging times.  Pakistan expressed its fullest support to Chinese brothers after the outbreak of Covid-19 in Wuhan and also donated PPEs to help China fight the Coronavirus. She said China has donated medical supplies as well as a team of medical experts visited Pakistan to help fight the pandemic.  She further said the Chinese medical team, has strengthened Pakistan's capacity to control Covid-19 through sharing their experience and expertise with our medical community.

Replying to a question about global efforts to contain Covid-19, the Spokesperson said the Covid-19 pandemic has posed an unprecedented challenge to the world and WHO is at the forefront of international efforts to contain the pandemic. She said the international community will have to work together in a coordinated manner to defeat the Coronavirus. Pakistan urges the international community, world leaders, UN, WHO and other stakeholders to come together to combat the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

(Zahid/Imran/Ijaz/Khokhar/Abdul Rehman)