Pakistan on Wednesday accused India of trying to intimidate Islamabad by deploying about a million troops at the borders even as it said its proposal for a phased mutual withdrawal of troops to defuse tension was not new. “Pakistan will not be intimidated and coerced by such means. We will maintain the principles of our foreign policy of peaceful co-existence,” foreign minister Abdul Sattar said at a meeting to award diplomats of specialised course in diplomacy at the foreign-service academy.
He said the international community and the members of UN Security Council have called for pulling back of troops from the Indo-Pak border and resuming talks to settle all outstanding issues peacefully.
Sattar said international community supported Pakistan's proposals favouring a dialogue and peaceful settlement of issues with India. He said unfortunately a country like India, the founder member of the United Nations, is opposing the dialogue. Referring to Pakistan's commitment to Kashmir issue, he said it is not a question of territory but the future of the people.
Meanwhile, foreign office spokesman Aziz Ahmad Khan said the proposals made by Pakistan on Tuesday to reduce tension on the borders with India were not new but aimed at de-escalating the crisis.
Bureau Report