‘US congress debate on Balochistan tantamount to support terrorists’

Washington: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Sherry Rehman has said that conveyed the reservations of Pakistan to the US administration on the US Congress Comttee debate  on Balochistan was tantamount to help terrorists operating in the province.  

According to a spokesperson for the Pakistani embassy, Ambassador Rehman, in her meetings with the congressmen and senior officials of the US administration, said that the Congress hearing was marked by a blatant disregard for history and inflammatory use of selective facts. “It is deeply regrettable that the legislature of a country that calls itself a friend of Pakistan should allow itself to be used as a platform by those advocating the dismemberment of Pakistan and provide justification to terrorists attempting to hold Balochistan, and Pakistan, hostage,” she said.

The subcommittee on oversights and investigations of the House Foreign Affairs Committee had held the hearing on 8th February with testimonies from human rights organizations and policy-analysts on the human-rights violations and target-killings in Balochistan.

 ”Pakistan views this hearing with serious concern and considers it unacceptable in no uncertain terms,” she stated adding that this kind of an exercise constituted interference in Pakistan’s internal affairs. The hearing, she observed, would be detrimental to building mutual trust and confidence and “will add to suspicions in Pakistan about the American motives in the region and concerning Pakistan.”

 Ambassador Rehman pointed out that “the bilateral relationship and the joint Pakistan-US fight against terrorism will be major casualties at a sensitive moment when the two countries need to focus the most on defeating this common enemy,” the spokesman informed. “The government of Pakistan strongly rejects the purpose and findings of the Congress hearing and considers this an ill-advised and ill-considered move that will have serious repercussions for Pakistan-US relations,” she added.

“Balochistan is an integral part of the Pakistani federation and Pakistan is a democracy conducting itself in accordance with international law. The popularly elected Pakistani Parliament and the Provincial Assembly of Balochistan, the independent judiciary, a vigorous media and a thriving civil society are all avenues for expression and seeking redress of grievances, political and economic,” the embassy spokesman quoted Sherry Rehman as saying.

 ”The Pakistan government has a strong commitment to protecting fundamental rights and freedoms in all parts of Pakistan, including Balochistan, and has initiated an extensive package of constitutional and other reforms to empower all citizens in the continuing consolidation of democracy,” she emphasised.