NEW YORK: Pakistan’s caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on Friday said that the gruesome killing of the Khalistan Movement Sikh leader in Canada had jolted the Western countries that raised very serious questions regarding the role of the Indian state.
Murder of Khalistan Movement leader in #Canada jolted West: PM Kakar @PakPMO @GovtofPakistan @anwaar_kakar#PMKakarAtUNGA #UNGA78 #BreakingNews #RadioPakistan https://t.co/VrkfVYUXCv pic.twitter.com/3tLWTEo2VD
— Radio Pakistan (@RadioPakistan) September 22, 2023
Addressing a press conference at the Pakistan Mission, he said that Pakistan had been a victim of such state-sponsored terrorism and also shared evidence of ‘Pakistan centric’ at different international and multilateral forums regarding the role of Indian state.
Assassination of Khalistan Movement Leader in Canada Jolts Western Countries: Pakistan PM
Kakar said that it might be the first of its kind event possibly after the First World I that an Asian country staged a physical murder on the European soil and its impacts were being felt across the West who now realized how India was persecuting its minorities like Sikhs, Christians, and Muslims. PM Kakar opined that an alliance should be set up to check such ‘rough behaviour’ of India.
Responding to another question, Kakar said that he also held talks with several business forums in the US that showed keen interests in the economic revival plans in Pakistan.
He also termed his talks with the IMF MD very constructive, saying that she hoped that the upcoming mandated government would carry on the economic plan.
There was no lack of the commodities in Pakistan as different edible food items were readily available, however, prices of some commodities were linked with global prices, he said.
The IMF was very appreciative of the current interim government’s measures over unlawful trade of dollars, he said. The IMF did not demand anything, Kakar said, saying that the next elected government would further talks with the IMF according to its manifesto.
Regarding Afghanistan, he said that they had multifaceted engagements with the Afghan current government and hoped the outcome of those engagements would be positive for the two nations.
Responding to a query, the PM said that Islamabad would take all measures to protect its territory and people whenever any need arose. Kakar said that Islamabad respected the sovereignty and integrity of Afghanistan.
Pak-US ties
About Pak-US ties, he said that they had very constructive historic ties which would be further strengthened. The Pakistani diaspora was contributing in the US and playing their role in the community building.
About his meeting with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Kakar said that they had held talks about the mutual priorities and held beneficial talks.
The PM said that the State of Pakistan effectively responded to the Jaranwala incident. Contrarily, the India acted as a spectator rather than an accomplice in the Manipur violence in which hundreds of people were killed.
To a question regarding the polls in the country, the Prime Minister said the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) was mandated to hold the elections and the final date would be announced soon.
Rubbishing the notion of any victimisation, the prime minister said anyone involved in the violence against the state would be dealt with under the law of the land as Pakistan was a sovereign state.
The PM said Pakistan wanted constructive engagement with Russia and both the nations had immense potential of enhanced economic cooperation. However, he said, Pakistan did not favour a military solution to any conflict and instead advocated talks for settlement.
IIOJK
Pakistan’s Prime Minister said that persecution of Muslims being carried out in the IIOJK was aptly described as “genocide”, which he also mentioned in his address at the UN General Assembly.
He added thousands of Kashmiris had been killed and women were raped, besides the extrajudicial killing of innocent people.
To another query, the PM said of about 5 million refugees in Pakistan, some 2.8 million were legal and the rest were without any document. Therefore, the government took decision to repatriate the refugees and administrative intervention was also being made for this purpose.
Kakar also rubbished the notion of an isolated Pakistan and said during his meetings with the world leaders, they had found growing interest of the globe in Pakistan. He also highlighted his engagements on the sidelines of the UNGA session in New York. _APP
