Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif raises Kashmir issue at CICA Summit; India gives befitting reply

New Delhi: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday accused the Indian government of committing atrocities in Jammu and Kashmir and said that the onus was on New Delhi to engage in a result-oriented manner. While addressing the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) Summit in Kazakhstan, Sharif said he is "absolutely ready" to have a serious dialogue and discussion with Indians, provided that they show the "sincerity" of purpose and they show that they are ready to discuss issues that have really kept India-Pakistan at a distance over decades.

"Pakistan desires peaceful relations with all its neighbours, including India. However, until India brings its atrocities in occupied Kashmir to a grinding halt, just and lasting peace will remain elusive," he said.

At CICA Summit, I explained how India uses the mantra of democracy to hide its gross human rights abuses. The world should recognise brutal nature of Indian policies in IIOJK. The terrorised valley of Kashmir is manifestation of bullet being a preferred Indian policy than ballot. — Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) October 13, 2022

Hitting back at Sharif, India's state minister for external affairs Meenakshi Lekhi said that Pakistan has once again used the CICA platform to "promote false and malicious propaganda" against India. She also said that Pakistan is diverting attention away from the grouping's discussions.

"The union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh have been and will remain an integral part of India. Pakistan has no locus standi to comment on India’s internal affairs," Lekhi said.

She said that Sharif's remarks amounted to "gross interference in India’s internal affairs, sovereignty and territorial integrity" and were inconsistent with CICA’s principles guiding relations between member states.

She also called on Pakistan to stop the "grave and persistent human rights violations in Pakistan-occupied Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh" and to refrain from any further material changes in the status of the region.

"Pakistan should also vacate the Indian territories that are under its illegal and forcible occupation," the minister added.

Delivered India's statement at the 6th CICA Summit.Highlighted India's approach to international relations based on the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, & our contribution to the global fight against COVID-19. Reiterated importance of CICA for multipolar Asia & the World. pic.twitter.com/zCWwf5CIVn — Meenakashi Lekhi (@M_Lekhi) October 13, 2022

"Pakistan is the global epicenter of terrorism and continues to be the source of terrorist activities, including in India. Pakistan continues to not invest in human development but provides their resources for creating and sustaining the infrastructure of terrorism," Lekhi said.

(With agency inputs)