ISLAMABAD: National Assembly was informed on Friday that Pakistan believes in a functioning relationship with the United States based on mutual respect and trust, which is in the interest of the region.
In a written reply in the House, Minister for Foreign Affairs Khawaja Muhammad Asif said after a negative tweet of the US President, Pakistani leadership decided that Pakistan’s response would be measured. He said that National Security Committee in its meetings afterwards took stock of the entire situation.
Khawaja Asif said, during recent high-level engagements with the visiting US delegations, they were told that the unwarranted allegations by the US President belie the cooperative history of the relationship, which served mutual interests in the region.
The Minister said despite the accusations, Pakistan remains committed to the stability of region and supports all efforts towards an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process.
He said people of Pakistan are prepared to defend their honor, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the homeland.
In a written reply of another question, Minister of Foreign Affairs said that the situation on the Line of Control and Working Boundary is rapidly deteriorating since 2017.
He said heavy weapons, including mortars are frequently being used by the Indian Forces, on the civilian population on the Pakistani side of the LOC and the Working Boundary.
He said that since the beginning of this year, the Indian occupation forces carried out more than four hundred ceasefire violations along the Line of Control and the Working Boundary, resulting in the martyrdom of eighteen innocent Pakistani civilians.
He said this escalation at the LoC and Working Boundary is an attempt to divert the attention of the international community from Indian atrocities in IOK.
Foreign Minister said that Pakistan maintains that the role of the United Nations Military Observers Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) is crucial to ensure peace and tranquility at the LOC. He said Pakistan has always extended full cooperation to the UNMOGIP.
