Published 08:49 IST, October 14th 2019
Pakistan PM Imran Khan discusses Kashmir with Iran's Hassan Rouhani
Pakistan PM Imran Khan dragged the Kashmir issue to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani amidst tensions with India after New Delhi abrogated Article 370 from J&K.
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Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan dragged the Kashmir issue to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani amidst tensions with India after New Delhi abrogated Jammu and Kashmir's special status. Imran Khan, who visited Tehran on Sunday to mediate between bitter regional rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia, held talks with Iran's Hassan Rouhani at the presidential palace and later met with Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Pakistan Foreign Office in a statement said Imran Khan discussed the situation in Kashmir with Rouhani and expressed gratitude over "Iran's support" on the Kashmir issue.
Pakistan has been trying to internationalise the Kashmir issue after India withdrew the special status of Jammu and Kashmir on August 5, but New Delhi has asserted the abrogation of Article 370 was its "internal matter" and has asked Islamabad to accept the reality. India has also said that there is no scope for any third party mediation on the Kashmir issue.
It was Prime Minister Khan's second visit to Iran this year. He also had a bilateral meeting with the Iranian President on the sidelines of the 74th UNGA Session in New York in September. He is expected to visit Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. Pakistan has been trying to improve ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia due to its close ties with both nations. Former premier Nawaz Sharif also visited the two capitals in 2016 to seek reduction in their differences, however, Riyadh refused to respond to the former Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Pakistan's terror link
Yet again, Pakistani Prime Minister has been foul crying to Iran's Hassan Rouhani over Kashmir, however, neglecting their support for terrorism. Pakistan has activated at least 20 terror camps and another 20 launch pads along the Line of Control with increased efforts to ensure infiltration of as many terrorists as it can into Jammu and Kashmir before the onset of winter, officials said on Tuesday. Imran Khan's appeal to Hassan Rouhani comes in the wake of international pressure over Islamabad for their failure to dismantle terror outfits.
On October 7 FATF released its report, concluding that the Islamabad has failed to sufficient action against terrorists in the light of UN sanctions. In its latest 228-page report on Pakistan titled, "Mutual Evaluation Report 2019", the APG stated that Pakistan has not taken adequate measures to fully implement UNSCR 1267 obligations against 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed and other individuals associated with LeT, JuD, FIF, and other terror groups.
"Pakistan has not taken sufficient measures to fully implement UNSCR 1267 obligations against all listed individuals and entities - especially those associated with Lashkar-eTayyiba (LeT)/Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), and Falah-i-Insaniat Foundation (FIF) as well as the groups'," the report read.
(With PTI inputs)
08:31 IST, October 14th 2019