Pakistan invokes attention of world leaders on Indian atrocities in Jammu and Kashmir

Islamabad on Sunday in a letter addressed to 178 democracies across the world urged their leaders to pay attention to the deteriorating situation between India and Pakistan, and take action on the atrocities inflicted by New Delhi in Jammu and Kashmir.

A press statement released by the National Assembly of Pakistan quoted Speaker Asad Qaiser as saying, "Pakistan strongly rejects the Indian purported claims of having targeted any installation and resultant causalities. It is completely absurd and is based on a false narrative designed to placate domestic audience."

Pakistan, while reserving its right to respond against Indian aggression, kept its calm and warned India to avoid further escalating the situation, the Speaker said, while adding that India has also continued unprovoked ceasefire violations at the Line of Control in the disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in deaths of several innocent civilians.

"This noble gesture clearly establishes that Pakistan has no intention of escalation, but as a self-respecting nation is prepared to do so if forced into that paradigm. For the last few years, India has been trying to establish what they call 'a new normal' - a thinly veiled term for doing acts of aggression at whatever pretext they wish on a given day," Qaiser was quoted as saying in the statement.

The Speaker further informed the international community if India is striking at so-called terrorist backers without a shred of evidence, Pakistan also retains reciprocal rights to retaliate against elements that enjoy Indian patronage while carrying out acts of terror in Pakistan. He added that Pakistan does not wish to go to that route and desires that India gives peace a chance and to resolve issues through dialogue as a mature democratic nation.

The Speaker urged that the deteriorating situation between Pakistan and India can only be normalised by amicably resolving the issue of Jammu and Kashmir. Otherwise, peace in the region will remain an elusive dawn, he said.

"Pakistan has also offered India numerous times for talks on Kashmir with the view to amicably resolve this longstanding dispute between the two countries," Qaiser said.

The move by the National Assembly Speaker was undertaken after the international community, including Russia, China and the United Kingdom, asked both New Delhi and Islamabad to de-escalate tension among them, which was heightened especially after the Pulwama terror on February 14.

The responsibility of the terror attack that claimed lives of 40 Central Reserves Police Force (CRPF) jawans was affirmed by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).

-ANI