Pakistan questions India's role as credible global partner after Sikh leader's murder in Canada

FO calls India’s extrajudicial killing on Canadian soil a violation of international laws

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – The Foreign Office of Pakistan on Wednesday stated that the news of Indian involvement in an extrajudicial killing in Canada had shown that the country’s network of extra-territorial killings had now gone global.

During the weekly press briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch emphasised that India's act of assassinating a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil constitutes a blatant violation of international laws and the UN principle of state sovereignty.

The spokesperson’s statement came in response to a question about Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's claim of possessing "credible evidence" linking the Indian government to the murder of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar, aged 45, was fatally shot by two masked assailants in the busy parking area of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in British Columbia, a province in Canada.

The spokesperson strongly condemned this incident as a "reckless and irresponsible act," raising doubts about India's credibility as a responsible international partner and its aspirations for increased global responsibilities.

Regarding India's historical record, Mumtaz Baloch noted that the Indian intelligence agency, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), had been actively involved in abductions and assassinations in South Asia for decades.

The spokesperson pointed out that Pakistan had consistently been a target of targeted killings and espionage orchestrated by RAW. She recalled that in December 2022, Pakistan had presented a comprehensive dossier containing concrete and indisputable evidence of Indian involvement in the June 2021 Lahore attack, stating that "the attack was planned and executed by Indian intelligence."

Mumtaz Baloch also mentioned that in 2016, a senior Indian military officer, Commander Kulbhushan Yadhav, had confessed to his role in directing, financing, and executing acts of terrorism and sabotage in Pakistan.

Addressing India's accusations against Pakistan in the Anantnag encounter, the spokesperson asserted that Pakistan had consistently maintained that India had a habit of implicating Pakistan in incidents that occurred under its supervision, particularly in the occupied Kashmir. 

In reply to queries about diplomatic engagements between Pakistan and India at various levels, Baloch noted that the primary channel of communication had reduced to the level of charge d'affaires, with the possibility of communication at the Director General Military Operations (DGMO) level if functional.

Regarding a recent letter from Pakistan's caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar to the leader of the Afghan government, the spokesperson clarified that it was a routine correspondence in response to Afghanistan's congratulatory letter on the assumption of office by the caretaker PM.

Baloch emphasised the importance of continuing diplomatic dialogue with Afghanistan to address mutual concerns.

About Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's support for the Kashmir cause and proposed talks between Pakistan and India at the UN General Assembly, the FO spokesperson highlighted Turkiye's longstanding principled stance on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute and described Turkiye as an "old friend and brother" of Pakistan.

Baloch conveyed Pakistan's willingness to engage in talks with India to resolve all disputes, especially the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir. She also reiterated Pakistan's openness to third-party mediation on the J&K issue based on the UN Security Council resolutions and international law principles.

Mumtaz Baloch underscored Pakistan's commitment to raising concerns about India's state-sponsored terrorism in Pakistan and its oppression of the people in IIOJK. She pointed out ongoing human rights violations, including killings and arbitrary arrests.

Responding to questions about Pakistan's stance on the Nagorno Karabakh issue, Baloch reiterated Pakistan's unwavering support for Azerbaijan's sovereignty and territorial integrity, considering Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan's sovereign territory.

Regarding caretaker PM Kakar's participation in the UNGA and his agenda, the spokesperson disclosed that a small delegation, including the foreign minister, foreign secretary, and senior officials, accompanied him. She mentioned that the prime minister would address various regional and global issues, including the longstanding unresolved Kashmir dispute, and share Pakistan's efforts to stimulate economic recovery and attract domestic and foreign investments with world leaders.

Baloch responded to inquiries about the meetings of US Ambassador Donald A Blome in Pakistan and his visit to Gwadar, emphasising that foreign ambassadors in Pakistan were free to meet government officials and public figures, much like Pakistani ambassadors do in their respective host countries.

Regarding Pakistan's relations with Russia following a news report by a foreign publication, Baloch stated that both countries maintained robust dialogue and numerous exchanges had taken place. She noted that Russia understood Pakistan's neutral stance on the Russia-Ukraine dispute.