Islamabad: Pakistan on December 5 accused Russia of not focussing on "Kashmir
movement" and getting carried away by the "chauvinist" Indian propaganda and said it
wanted Moscow to play a "constructive role" in addressing "grave and fundamental
problems" to restore peace and security in South Asia.
The Delhi Declaration signed on December 4 by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and
Russian President Vladimir Putin focussed on the issue of cross-border terrorism and
not on the "Kashmir movement", a Foreign Ministry statement in Islamabad
said.
"It is unfortunate that the Russian leadership has taken in by the Indian
propaganda," it said, adding that Islamabad was disappointed at "the unwarranted and
unbalanced references to Pakistan contained in the so-called Delhi
Declaration."
Acknowledging Moscow's role in normalising Indo-Pak ties, the statement said
"Pakistan expects Russia, as a major power, to play constructive role in addressing
the grave and
fundamental problems in peace and security in South Asia".
The statement said Pakistan had not expected any "objectivity or reason" from
"chauvinist Indian leadership...It is regrettable that the legitimate, genuine and
indigenous
Kashmir freedom struggle has not been a given a due consideration."
Charging that the Declaration has not taken into consideration alleged Human Rights
violation by Indian security forces in Kashmir, it said, "the Russian side has also
failed to notice India's adamant refusal to resolve the Kashmir dispute in a fair and
just manner on the basis of UN resolutions and in accordance with the wishes of the
Kashmiri people."
The statement followed comments by Pakistan Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali
denying Islamabad's role in sponsoring terrorism.
"We have always refuted it. We never believe in it. I do not want to blame Mr Putin
for making such a statement while sitting in India," he was quoted as saying by the
local media on December 5 in response to the Delhi Declaration.
Also allaying fears expressed by Putin over the safety of Pakistan's nuclear weapons,
Jamali said the country's nuclear assets were in safe hands.
"Pakistan is a positive thinking country and there was no need for worry about the
country's nuclear programme," he said.
PTI
