Modi crossed ‘red line’ by talking about Balochistan: Pak

From Sajjad Hussain Islamabad, Aug 18 (PTI) Pakistan today said Prime MinisterNarendra Modi crossed the "red line" by talking aboutBalochistan and asserted that it will "forcefully" raise theKashmir issue at the UN General Assembly session next month. "The Prime Minister strongly pleaded the case of Kashmirduring General Assembly session last year and we will againforcefully raise the issue," Foreign Office SpokespersonNafees Zakaria said. Zakaria, in his weekly news briefing here, also tookstrong exception to the remarks by Prime Minister Modi onBalochistan. Prime Minister Modi had brought up Pakistani atrocities onpeople of Balochistan and PoK in his Independence Day speech. "It is the violation of the UN Charter…He (Modi) crossedthe red line by talking about Balochistan," Zakaria said. He alleged that India was involved in subversiveactivities in Balochistan and Karachi. Zakaria also claimedthat India was referring to Balochistan to cover up its humanrights violations in Kashmir. Zakaria said Prime Minister Sharif will lead the officialdelegation at the General Assembly session. He said the UNSecretary General and most of the UN members had already beeninformed about the "precarious situation" in Kashmir. Zakaria said the UN and international community shouldremind India that it must fulfil its commitment to give theright of self-determination to the people of Jammu and Kashmiras per Security Council resolutions. He said the issue was still outstanding on the SecurityCouncil agenda for more than six decades. "Pakistan strongly condemns the continuing use of force byIndia and violation of human rights. The brutal use of forcehas killed at least 80 people and at least 100 have beenblinded by use of pellet guns," Zakaria alleged. He said the international community and human rightsorganisations should call upon India to stop use of "bruteforce" in Kashmir. Asked about Indian taking action against AmnestyInternational, he said it showed how India was treating theissue of human rights in Kashmir. Zakaria said Pakistan had proposed to India to hold talkson Kashmir. However, he refused to confirm if India hadresponded to the proposal. When asked about any conditions India had put before themfor starting dialogue, the spokesman said Pakistan proposedthat Kashmir should be the focus of the talks. Zakaria also claimed that the China-Pakistan EconomicCorridor (CPEC) was aimed at economic development of not onlyPakistan and China but the entire region. He said India’sobjection to such a beneficial economic project was beyondcomprehension. Zakaria said Pakistan had invited finance ministers ofSAARC countries for the next week meeting but so far waswaiting for confirmation on Arun Jaitley’s participation. PTISH ASK AKJASK