Pakistan’s Foreign Office on Thursday strongly reacted to a statement issued by Indian Defence Minister Arun Jaitley and said Kashmiris were freedom fighters who were carrying out their movement from an occupied territory and not separatists.
Speaking to media representatives during the weekly briefing in Islamabad, FO spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said Jaitley’s statement was “unacceptable for Pakistan.”
Jaitley had on Wednesday said that Pakistan must make a “conscious choice of peace” and decide whether it wanted to talk to the Indian government or the Hurriyat leaders.
The spokeswoman added that Pakistan was sincere when it came to a dialogue with India, saying dialogue with India is not a favor, but a necessity for peace and development in South Asia.
Responding to a question, she said Pakistan does not want to stop trade between India and Afghanistan through its territory.
Referring to the Indian leadership’s statement in condemnation of the Wagah border post attack, Aslam said no condemnation or condolence message had been received through official channels.
