Pakistan on Tuesday strongly rejected the unwarranted references to Pakistan in the joint statement issued after 17th meeting of US–India Counter-Terrorism Joint Working Group and Designations Dialogue Response.

The Foreign Office Spokesperson in a statement issued said, “Our serious concerns and rejection of the unacceptable reference to Pakistan in the afore-mentioned Joint Statement have been conveyed to the US side.”

It is important that partner countries take an objective view of the issues of peace and security in South Asia and refrain from endorsing positions that are one-sided and divorced from ground realities.

The international community is well-aware that Pakistan is a country most affected by cross-border terrorism, sponsored and supported by India, the statement reads.

The international community also recognizes Pakistan’s efforts, sacrifices and successes in the fight against terrorism, the Spokesperson said.

The Foreign Office Spokesperson further said, “Pakistan has repeatedly underlined that peace and stability in South Asia is threatened by the irresponsible policies and actions of the RSS-BJP regime in India – including towards its minorities, its state-terrorism in IIOJK, and its belligerence against Pakistan and other countries in the region.”

The Foreign Office said the international community must urge India to reverse course and desist from playing a role detrimental to regional peace and stability.

It is pertinent to note in the joint statement issued by the US Statement Department after 17th meeting of U.S–India Counter-Terrorism Joint Working Group and Designations Dialogue Response, it has been stated, “The two sides underlined the urgent need for Pakistan to take immediate, sustained, and irreversible action to ensure that no territory under its control is used for terrorist attacks, and to expeditiously bring to justice the perpetrators of such attacks, including 26/11 Mumbai and Pathankot.”