ISLAMABAD: A media report stated that Pakistan has set up a high-level committee to formulate a "doable and sustainable" policy to highlight the Kashmir issue globally and is reaching out to Indians opposed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "extremist policies." The decision was reportedly announced by advisor on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz, in the Senate. The committee will consist of senior officials from the ministries of defence, interior and information, military operations directorate, Inter-Services Intelligence, and Intelligence Bureau.
Aziz said the committee was headed by foreign secretary Aizaz Chaudhry and could co-opt other members if required. He said another committee, chaired by the information secretary had been formed to prepare fact sheets to "counter India's propaganda campaign and design a media strategy to continuously highlight the Kashmiri freedom struggle." The committee also includes representatives from the ministries of defence, foreign affairs and IT, as well as members of the military operations directorate, ISI and IB.
He said the ministry of information technology had been asked to prepare a comprehensive strategy to highlight the Kashmir issue on social media. The report quoted Aziz as saying "steps were being taken to highlight Indian interference in Pakistan's internal affairs, as well as its support for subversive activities and human rights violations in Kashmir." With steps already being taken to reach out to segments of the Indian public that were opposed to Modi's extremist policies, he said, "Our missions abroad, including in New Delhi, are making outreach efforts to emphasise the extremist Indian policies." Talking about measures to counter India's efforts to isolate Pakistan in the region, he said the country was doing the most to engage the international community, including regional partners.
Stating a need for positive response from India, Aziz added, "Pakistan continues to exhibit maturity and statesmanship despite provocative statements by Indian leadership and the continued ceasefire violations across the LoC and working boundary having resulted in civilian casualties."
