Pakistan to move UN after Modi cites India's role in 1971 war, says its stand has been vindicated

Islamabad: Days after passing a resolution in Parliament against India, Pakistan will be moving United Nations to condemn Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement in Bangladesh.

During his visit to Bangladesh in June, PM Modi had admitted that India played a part in the break-up of Pakistan in 1971 Liberation war. He had said that he was proud that Indian troops sacrificed themselves for liberation of Bangladesh.

Following Modi’s statement, Islamabad has been urging the international community to take notice of India’s admission to interfering in former East Pakistan, which became Bangladesh in 1971.

Pakistan Prime Minister's Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz had said that their government has taken "strong notice" of Modi's statement "acknowledging" India's "intervention" in events of 1971.

"Pakistan will take all possible steps to expose India's role in the breakup of East Pakistan in 1971 and its threat to destabilise Pakistan through terrorism," he alleged. Aziz also urged the international community and the UN to take notice of the India's "open admission" of indulging in subversive activities to destabilise Pakistan.

Aziz said Modi's statement vindicates Pakistan's stand over India's present and past policies to destabilise it. He said it is regrettable that Modi chose Bangladesh for the statement which was aimed at fanning hatred against Pakistan in Bangladesh.

Aziz had also said that Modi's remarks were aimed at souring ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh which have strong bonds of religious affinity and the shared history of struggle for independence against colonial rule.

In its resolution, Pakistan's National Assembly accused Indian troops of "unprovoked aggression" on the LoC and extending support to the "struggle" of the Kashmiri people.

The resolution, moved by Pakistani science and technology minister Zahid Hamid, a senior leader of the ruling PML-N, endorsed Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's "forceful statement" for effective steps to ensure the ceasefire on the Line of Control and to improve the atmosphere by engaging constructively to build trust and confidence.

"This house forcefully reiterates that while Pakistan is committed to working for peace with its neighbours, it remains steadfast in its resolve to fully defend its sovereignty, territorial borders and national interests.

"It salutes its brave and valiant armed forces and assures them of its fullest support in achieving this objective," said the resolution passed unanimously by the lower house of parliament.

The resolution condemned the "unprovoked aggression by Indian military forces across the LoC in recent days".

The National Assembly reiterated that Pakistan "shall continue to extend diplomatic, political and moral support for the just and legitimate struggle of the Kashmiri people for the realisation of their right to self-determination, as enshrined in the UN security council resolutions".

Referring to Sharif's remarks on keeping peace along the LoC, the resolution called on the government "to clearly convey to the government of India the necessity to respect and uphold the ceasefire agreement of 2003 in letter and spirit".