Pakistan on Monday strongly denounced remarks by Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh regarding Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), describing them as inflammatory and reflective of India’s aggressive posture.
In a statement, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Pakistan “condemns in the strongest possible terms” the Indian minister’s comments, calling them highly provocative and irresponsible in the context of the long-standing Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
He said the remarks misrepresented the internationally recognized status of the Kashmir issue, which remains on the agenda of the United Nations Security Council. He added that such statements demonstrate India’s deliberate approach of undermining regional and international peace and stability.
On Sunday, Rajnath Singh claimed that any future dialogue with Pakistan would focus only on what he referred to as “Pakistan-administered Kashmir.” He also said the Indian government had granted its armed forces full authority to respond decisively to security threats and expressed confidence that no country would dare challenge India.
Responding to these assertions, the Foreign Office said India was attempting to divert international attention from its continued control of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), its alleged support for terrorism in the region, and its internal challenges.
The spokesperson further warned that India’s aggressive rhetoric should not be mistaken for strength, emphasizing that Pakistan remained fully prepared to respond to any hostile action. He said the country’s determination had already been demonstrated by its armed forces and the nation during Operation Bunyan-ul-Marsoos last year.
Pakistan also called on the international community, particularly the United Nations, to take notice of what it described as India’s continued irresponsible conduct and to hold New Delhi accountable for failing to implement relevant UN Security Council resolutions, which affirm the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination.
