Pakistan has rejected India’s assertion that Pakistan politicized the COVID-19 Video Conference of the SAARC Member Countries on March 15 by raising Kashmir lockdown issue.

In a statement on Friday, the Foreign Office Spokesperson Aisha Farooqui said the Indian contention of “politicization” of a humanitarian (coronavirus pandemic) issue was misleading and mischievous.

She said that Minister of State for Health Dr Zafar Mirza had drawn attention to the health emergency in the Indian Occupied Kashmir in the context of coronavirus and underscored the need for lifting of restrictions on communications and ensuring access to medical supplies.

In making this call, Pakistan has not been alone. Indeed, numerous voices from within the occupied valley and the world are echoing the same message, she added.

The spokesperson said Pakistan’s participation in the video conference was aimed at showing solidarity with SAARC members and reaffirming our abiding commitment to the SAARC process.

The people of South Asia are well aware as to which the country has been seeking to “politicize” the SAARC process and continues to obstruct its onward march, she said.

“Pakistan believes that the collective endeavours of South Asian nations to fight common challenges should not be allowed to become a victim of self-serving propaganda,” Aisha Farooqui said.

She further said that as a demonstration of Pakistan’s commitment, Islamabad has reaffirmed its readiness to host the SAARC Health Ministers’ Conference at the appropriate time.

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