The situation in AJK is addressed within a democratic and constitutional framework
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi speaking at the Foreign Ministry’s weekly press briefing. SCREEN CAPTURE
Pakistan on Thursday firmly rejected recent statements by Indian officials on the situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), with the Ministry of External Affairs saying New Delhi was trying to divert attention from the unresolved Kashmir dispute and its own record in Indian-administered territory.
At the weekly press briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Pakistan had “seen those statements” from India and “rejects India’s statements in their entirety.”
He said it was “untenable for a state like India, which has systematically denied the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) their right to self-determination, to express concern about the rights of Kashmiris”.
He added that India, through such comments, was trying to “divert attention from the unresolved status of Jammu and Kashmir and its own abysmal record in Illegally Occupied Indian Jammu and Kashmir.”
The spokesperson rejected any comparison between the two sides of the Line of Control (LoC), saying Pakistan “also rejects any insinuation of false equivalence between the situation in IIOJK and matters relating to AJK.”
He said IIOJK was “an internationally recognized, illegally annexed disputed territory” where people had “suffered systemic abuses under draconian laws” and had been denied their right to self-determination under UN Security Council resolutions.
On the contrary, he said, “the situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir… [is being] addressed within a democratic and constitutional framework.” And he added: “Any attempt to combine the two is misleading and does not stand up to objective scrutiny.”
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Reiterating Pakistan’s position, he said Islamabad would continue to support “the human rights of Kashmiris, including their inalienable right to self-determination,” and seek a “peaceful resolution of these eight decades of disputes in accordance with international law… and the wishes and aspirations of the people of Kashmir.”
He also urged India to agree to a UN-supervised plebiscite, saying: “If India sincerely believes that the wishes of the Kashmiri people…must prevail…it must defend their right to self-determination.”
Nuclear concerns
Responding to questions about a recent report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the spokesperson said Pakistan had reviewed the findings and was not surprised.
He said Pakistan “does not wish to endorse or give credence to SIPRI’s methodology” but its findings “are nevertheless not surprising.”
Andrabi noted that the report “broadly corroborates the concerns that Pakistan has been constantly raising regarding India’s continued vertical proliferation.” The spokesperson added: “We also believe that open source estimates such as those from SIPRI may not fully reflect the true scale of India’s nuclear arsenal, which may actually be larger.”
He warned that advances in India’s nuclear posture, including missile and submarine systems, could “improve operational readiness, complicate crisis stability and have implications extending beyond South Asia with serious consequences for international peace and security.”
Pakistan, he said, “is not seeking an arms race,” but remains “aware of the evolving security environment” and will take “all essential measures to preserve strategic stability.” He urged the international community to “closely monitor the developments and deployments of India’s nuclear arsenal.”
water rights
The spokesperson also reacted strongly to statements by India’s Water Resources Minister suggesting that “not a single drop of water will go to Pakistan in the coming years.”
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He said Pakistan had seen the statement and warned that any attempt to restrict water would be “deeply irresponsible” and violate international obligations and bilateral agreements.
Andrabi stated that Pakistan firmly rejects any notion that water can be treated as a “political tool or instrument of coercion or weapon.” He warned that such actions would threaten regional stability and said the responsibility would “fall squarely on India’s shoulders.”
Andrabi reiterated: “Pakistan’s rights and interests… are non-negotiable.” He said Islamabad would defend its water rights through “all available diplomatic, legal, political, economic and other measures.”
He further warned that any attempt to block vital water for the people of Pakistan could be considered “an extremely serious act” and “possibly amounts to an act of war.”
Citing Article 51 of the UN Charter, he said Pakistan retained the right to self-defense and would take “all necessary measures to safeguard its economy… and the lives of its 250 million people.”
Hostage situation in Somalia
Andrabi also provided an update on Pakistani nationals taken hostage on a cargo ship by Somali pirates, saying they had been in captivity for “almost 50 days.”
He said Pakistan was engaged with Somali authorities, the ship’s owner and relevant tribal actors in Puntland to secure its release.
The FO spokesperson also noted that Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Ishaq Dar had recently spoken to Somalia’s Foreign Minister, while Pakistan’s ambassador to Somalia had also been involved. He said the efforts included “inter-ministerial and inter-departmental meetings” and continued diplomatic engagement.
Andrabi also said Pakistan was working to improve the living conditions of hostages of multiple nationalities, including Indonesians, Indians, Myanmar and Sri Lanka. He added that Pakistan “feels for the individuals” and their families, but described the situation as “operationally challenging.”
Middle East conflict
Turning to the Middle East, the spokesperson said Pakistan remained “deeply concerned” by the recent escalation and urged all parties to adhere to ceasefire agreements.
He said Pakistan believed that “diplomacy and dialogue should be the guiding principles” in resolving disputes. Andrabi highlighted Pakistan’s engagement with regional players, including Iran, the United States and Türkiye, and said these contacts were aimed at de-escalation.
He noted that Pakistan had facilitated diplomatic engagement, contributing to a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon, describing it as a “positive development” achieved with US involvement.
The spokesperson added that Pakistan would continue its efforts for peace and stability in the region under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who had stressed on remaining on “the path of peace and diplomacy.”
