Pakistan warns of action over Afghan diplomat’s disrespect to national anthem

Pakistan has outrightly rejected Acting Afghan Consul General’s explanation for not standing during the Pakistani national anthem at an event in Peshawar, terming the action a violation of diplomatic norms, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Replying to questions of media men at her weekly press conference in Islamabad on Thursday, Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said Pakistan considers the act of the Acting Afghan Consul General as reprehensible, saying this has hurt the sentiments of the people of Pakistan.

Mumtaz Baloch said Pakistan has conveyed its strong protest to the Afghan authorities on the matter.  She said decisions will be taken after due internal deliberations and conclusion of talks with the Afghan government. She said Pakistan reserves the right to take action in accordance with diplomatic norms and practices.

Responding to another question, Mumtaz Baloch said Pakistan is committed to the full implementation of Indus Water Treaty, as Islamabad considers the Indus Water Treaty as an important one and hopes that India will also comply with its provisions.

The spokesperson pointed out that the two countries have a mechanism of Indus Water Commissioners and all issues pertaining to this treaty can be discussed in it.   

The FO spokesperson described the election exercise in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir as farcical, reminding India that given the internationally recognized disputed status of IIOJK, any so-called elections conducted in pursuance of the Indian constitution carries no legal value in the eyes of international law.

Mumtaz Zahra said the relevant UN Security Council resolutions clearly state that final disposition of Jammu and Kashmir dispute will be made in accordance with the will of the Kashmiri people expressed through a UN supervised plebiscite. Any other process, cannot, therefore, serve as a substitute to the grant of the right of self-determination of the Kashmiri people, she added.

Categorically stating that it was opposed to all kinds of terrorism, the FO spokesperson strongly condemned the acts of terrorism in Lebanon through the explosion of electronic devices by Israel. She said that at this point in time, Pakistan expressed its complete solidarity with the government and the people of Lebanon.

She said that Israel by perpetrating atrocities against the Palestinians had violated international laws. “We condemn an attack on a school in Gaza by the Israeli forces,” the spokesperson added.  

Zahra said that Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk, who is currently on a visit to Pakistan, met with Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar yesterday. “Both expressed their satisfaction with the momentum at which Pak-Russia relations were strengthening.” 

She went on to say that during the ongoing week, US Under Secretary of State John Bass had also called on ishaq Dar. 

Reporter Anwar Abbas