“Even by Pak standards, they have stooped low,” says MEA on abduction row

                                                                                                                                                                                                    Nirendra Dev

 

New Delhi: At the Afghanistan Conference 2020 held in Geneva, Bagchi also said that External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar had emphasized India’s “long term commitment” to the development of Afghanistan.

 

On Thursday(July 22), India lashed out at Pakistan over the kidnapping of the daughter of Afghanistan’s envoy to Islamabad and, said in tongue-in-cheek fashion, “Even by their standards, Pakistan’s denial of the victim’s account is stooping to a new low.”

 

MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in a virtual media briefing that this is, of course, a “shocking incident.”

 

"This involves two other countries viz. Afghanistan and Pakistan, and usually we would not comment on it.

 

However, since the Interior Minister of Pakistan has dragged India into it, I would only like to say that even by their standards, Pakistan’s denial of the victim’s account is stooping to a new low,” he said.

 

On ‘security of Indian High Commission personnel’ in Pakistan, he quipped: “I would not like to get into specific securing measures.”

 

On India-Afghanistan bilateral relations, he said the ties are “guided by the Strategic Partnership Agreement signed between the two sides in October 2011.”

 

“As a contiguous neighbour, India supports the Government and the people of Afghanistan in realizing their aspirations for a peaceful, democratic and prosperous future where the interest of all sections of Afghan society including women and minorities are protected,” he said.

 

At the Afghanistan Conference 2020 held in Geneva, Bagchi also said that External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar had emphasized India’s “long term commitment” to the development of Afghanistan.

 

In the recent past, the bonhomie between India and Afghanistan has left Pakistan anguished and often forced it to pass unpalatable remarks.

 

Pakistan’s interior minister Rashid Ahmad had called the abduction of Afghan ambassador Najibullah Alikhil’s daughter is an Indian conspiracy.

 

The 26-year-old daughter of Afghan ambassador Najibullah Alikhil was abducted, held for almost five hours and assaulted by unidentified men in Islamabad on July 16. Two days later, the Afghan government recalled its envoy and senior diplomats from Islamabad.

 

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs once again expresses deep concern over the continuation of unprofessional remarks by Pakistan’s Interior Minister regarding the abduction of the daughter of our Ambassador in Islamabad,” the Afghan foreign ministry has said in a statement.

 

On the India-China border row, the MEA spokesperson said, Dr Jaishankar had met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on July 14 in Dushanbe (Tajikistan). The two leaders agreed that the next round of commander level talks should be convened at the earliest.

 

They should discuss all the remaining issues and seek a mutually acceptable solution.

 

“There was also an understanding that both sides will continue to ensure stability on the ground and neither side will take any unilateral action that could increase tension,” Mr Bagchi said.