Shia | Pakistan

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Saturday rejected India’s remarks regarding its Shia community as cynical and diversionary calling it an exercise in deflection masquerading as concern.

Pakistan on Saturday rejected India’s remarks regarding its Shia community as cynical and diversionary, calling it an exercise in deflection masquerading as concern.

The Foreign Office (FO) on Saturday rejected the Indian Ministry of External Affairs’ concern over the treatment of Pakistan’s Shia community, terming its remarks “cynical and diversionary” and an “exercise in deflection masquerading as concern”. The statement comes a day after the Indian Ministry of External Affairs commented on remarks it attributed to Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Asim Munir, wherein — during an interaction with Shia clerics — he allegedly said agitators responding violently to events in Iran should go to Iran. It should be mentioned that CDF Munir had met with Shia clerics in Rawalpindi earlier this month. A participant, speaking on condition of anonymity, said CDF Munir had adopted a stern tone, describing Iran as being under pressure from major powers, and asserted that Pakistan’s territory was not being used against Tehran. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss matters of national security and the role of ulema in societal harmony, according to a statement issued ...