Pakistan criticizes joint statement by U.S. and India

ISLAMABAD (AA) – Pakistan criticizes the joint statement released after talks between U.S. President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Pakistan Defense Minister Khwaja Asif called the reference to his country in the statement misleading and a violation of diplomatic norms.

He said Pakistan is still paying the price for being a frontline U.S. ally in two Afghan wars.

In a speech to the lower house of parliament, he complained that Washington was not acknowledging the country’s sacrifices.

“We served as a frontline state during last 40-45 years in two American wars in Afghanistan and today we are paying the price for being an ally of America in their war,” Asif told the National Assembly in response to the US-India joint statement.

“We brought terrorism inside our country because we were an ally of the US,” he said.

The joint statement called on Pakistan to take immediate action to ensure that no Pakistani-controlled territory is used for terrorist attacks.

Asif accused the Indian prime minister of overseeing the killing of thousands of Muslims and the rape of women in the western Indian state of Gujarat when he was chief minister in 2002.

He reminded the U.S. that it had imposed a visa ban on Modi for his alleged involvement in the murder of Muslims.

He also criticized previous Pakistani governments for siding with the U.S. in the wars in Afghanistan.

“For the US, war is an investment, but for us it was destruction,” the defense minister claimed.

Elections are coming up in the country, and whoever forms the next government should pursue stable relations with the US while putting the country’s interests first, he said.​​​​​​​