ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ spokesperson on Monday strongly dismissed the “baseless and uninformed” comments made by certain British Members of Parliament and members of the Pakistani diaspora in the United Kingdom concerning Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
In an official statement, the Foreign Office expressed its concern over what it described as irresponsible and unfounded insinuations from some diaspora members in the UK regarding AJK. The statement urged these individuals to refrain from meddling in Pakistan’s internal affairs and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, emphasizing that they should instead focus on contributing positively to their country of residence.
The ministry also criticized the remarks and questions raised by some British MPs, stating that they demonstrated a lack of understanding of the historical context and background of the issue. The Foreign Office reiterated that Pakistan is a sovereign and democratic nation, and it expects others to respect its independence and territorial integrity.
Furthermore, the statement underscored that both the Pakistani government and the authorities in Azad Jammu and Kashmir recognize and uphold citizens’ rights to peaceful assembly, free expression, and democratic participation.
At the same time, it emphasized that acts of vandalism, attacks on public infrastructure including hospitals and the killing of civilians and law enforcement personnel are unacceptable and cannot be justified under any circumstances.
