Pakistan Left Red-Faced As India-Afghanistan Relations Soar: Islamabad Summons Taliban Envoy | World News

In a show of desperation that surprised no one, Pakistan on Saturday threw a diplomatic tantrum over the historic India-Afghanistan joint statement issued during Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s historic visit to New Delhi. Islamabad summoned Afghanistan’s Ambassador to Pakistan and formally conveyed its reservations; where the Additional Secretary of State (West Asia and Afghanistan) noted his objections to key elements of the joint statement.

Pakistan’s primary concerns focused on the statement’s reference to Jammu and Kashmir being a part of India and its commitment not to allow Afghanistan’s territory to be used against India. Pakistan’s foreign ministry argued that the Kashmir reference violated “relevant UN Security Council resolutions” and was “highly insensitive” to what it called Islamabad’s “Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir”.

Predictable Kashmir Dispute

It is no surprise that Pakistan objects to the recognition of Jammu and Kashmir as part of India; This is a position that Islamabad has maintained for decades, despite India’s consistent stance that Kashmir is an integral and inalienable part of the country. The joint statement merely reflected India’s constitutional position, which has been India’s official position since independence.

Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) stated, “Referring to Jammu and Kashmir as a part of India clearly violates the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the legal status of Jammu and Kashmir. The Joint Statement is extremely insensitive to the sacrifices and sentiments of the people of India’s Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir in their just struggle for their right to self-determination.” in question.

What Pakistan conveniently ignores is that it is illegally occupying parts of Kashmir in violation of international norms, while claiming to speak on behalf of Kashmir’s aspirations.

Pakistan’s Remarkable Position on Terrorism

Perhaps more notable was Pakistan’s “strong rejection” of Afghan Foreign Minister Mottaki’s statement that terrorism was Pakistan’s internal problem. Islamabad has claimed to have repeatedly shared evidence of terrorist elements operating against Pakistan from Afghan soil, using terms such as “Fitna-e-Khawarij” and “Fitna-e-Hindustan” to describe these groups.

“Pakistan has repeatedly shared details regarding the presence of Fitna-i Khawarij and Fitna-e-Hindustan terrorist elements operating against Pakistan from Afghan territory with the support of elements in Afghanistan,” Islamabad said in a statement. he said.

India-Afghanistan Partnership Concerning Pakistan

What really worries Pakistan is the strengthening relationship between India and Afghanistan. The joint statement issued on October 10 during Mottaki’s historic visit, the first high-level visit from Kabul since the Taliban came to power in August 2021, reflects an important diplomatic development.

The declaration condemned terrorism emanating from countries in the region (an obvious reference to Pakistan), affirmed respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and most importantly, pledged that Afghanistan would not allow any group or individual to use Afghan territory against India.

During the visit, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also announced that India will upgrade its Technical Mission in Kabul to full Embassy status, signaling New Delhi’s long-term commitment to Afghanistan.