ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday summoned the Indian deputy high commissioner, at the Foreign Office and rejected the “baseless allegations” made by India, the Foreign Ministry said.
Earlier, Pakistan dissed the Indian aggression against Pakistan after the deadly Pulwana Attack as “uncalled for and baseless.”
Malik Muhammad Ehsan Ullah, Chairman National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, told Arab News on Friday that “Pakistan has been supporting the just cause of Kashmir, highlighting Indian atrocities against innocent Kashmiris and will continue doing so.”
Despite Pakistan expressing "grave concern" over the terror attack and condemning it, India announced today to withdraw the Most Favored Nation (MNF) status previously granted to Pakistan. The decision came after a cabinet meeting was held today during which Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was briefed about the attack on Indian security forces in Pulwama.
In the World Trade Organization (WTO), this status means non-discrimination — treating virtually everyone equally, said Indian Finance Minister Arun Jaitley during a press briefing, adding that "the MFN status that had been granted to Pakistan stands withdrawn."
“The [Indian] Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) will initiate all possible steps – and I’m referring to [...] diplomatic steps – which have to be taken to ensure the complete isolation from the international community of Pakistan,” Jaitley said on Friday, adding that there is “incontrovertible evidence” of Pakistan “having a direct hand in this gruesome terrorist incident.”
Modi’s India is escalating its response to a heinous #KashmirTerrorAttack by premising Pakistan’s hand in it. Yet Islamabad makes no gains from such an attack. Instead of a political response to years of brutal repression in Kashmir, hysteria is being amplified against Pakistan.
— SenatorSherryRehman (@sherryrehman) February 15, 2019
The Indian premier on Friday also warned Pakistan of a "strong action" after a high-level cabinet meeting on security was held in New Delhi.
When asked if revoking the MFN status will in any way affect Pakistan, Ehsan Ullah said, “India’s MFN status to Pakistan was nothing more than a piece of paper, so its withdrawal doesn’t make any difference.”
At least 44 Indian paramilitary soldiers were killed on Thursday in Pulwama when an explosive laden vehicle rammed into a bus carrying Indian paramilitary forces on a highway in Indian administered Kashmir on Thursday.
Militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) claimed responsibility of the deadly attack.
Following Thursday night’s attack, Islamabad strongly rejected any insinuation that sought to link the attack to Pakistan without investigations. “We have always condemned heightened acts of violence in the Valley,” the Foreign Office said in its press statement issued late Thursday.
“We strongly reject any insinuation by elements in the Indian media and government that seek to link the attack to Pakistan without investigations,” Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal said.
<br/>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Attack in Pulwama in IoK is a matter of grave concern.We have always condemned heightened acts of violence in Valley. We strongly reject any insinuation by elements in Indian government and media circles that seek to link the attack to State of Pakistan without investigations.</p>— Dr Mohammad Faisal (@ForeignOfficePk) <a href="https://twitter.com/ForeignOfficePk/status/1096129410468581376?ref_src=t...">February 14, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br/>
