In a diplomatic move, the US Deputy Chief of Mission was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday evening, where Pakistan conveyed its concerns and disappointment regarding the US-India Joint Statement issued on June 22, 2023. A demarche was made to him on the occasion. The Indo-US joint statement had accused Pakistan of cross-border terrorism and use of terrorist proxies. The joint statement was issued at the conclusion of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Washington. The joint statement said both Modi and Biden "strongly condemned cross-border terrorism, the use of terrorist proxies and called on Pakistan to take immediate action to ensure that no territory under its control is used for launching terrorist attacks". "President Biden and Prime Minister Modi reiterated the call for concerted action against all UN-listed terrorist groups, including al-Qaeda, ISIS/Da’esh, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), and Hizbul Mujhahideen," the joint statement had said. Read more: Pakistan dismisses terror allegations Pakistan in today’s demarche raised objections to what it described as unwarranted, one-sided, and misleading references made in the joint statement. The Pakistani officials emphasised that the United States should refrain from issuing statements that could be interpreted as endorsing India's baseless and politically motivated narrative against Pakistan. Furthermore, the Pakistani authorities stressed the importance of maintaining an enabling environment based on trust and understanding in order to solidify the counter-terrorism cooperation between Pakistan and the United States. They underscored that the bilateral collaboration in countering terrorism had been progressing positively and that this progress should not be undermined by statements that could strain the trust between the two nations. Also read: Asif hits back at joint US-India statement Pakistan has been actively engaged in combating terrorism and has made significant strides in addressing the global threat. The nation believes that a cooperative approach and mutual understanding between Pakistan and the United States are crucial to effectively combat terrorism and ensure regional stability. The demarche made by Pakistan to the US side reflects its commitment to upholding its interests and highlighting concerns in a diplomatic manner. By raising objections to the joint statement, Pakistan seeks to rectify what it perceives as a misrepresentation of facts and a potential endorsement of India's narrative against Pakistan.
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