By The South Asia Times

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan on Friday strongly condemned the US-India joint statement mentioning Pakistan and said US is responsible for bringing terrorism in the country.

Defense Minister Khwaja Asif while addressing in the parliament, said it ironic that statement was issued in presence of a person who remained involved in killing of thousand innocent Muslims in Gujrat and still killing innocent Muslim in Kashmir.

"We served as a frontline state during last four decades in two American wars in Afghanistan and today we are paying the price for being an ally of America in their war," Asif said.

He accused the Washington is responsible for current situation in the region and brought terrorism inside Pakistan.

"War is investment for Americans, they are selling their arms but it was destruction for us," he said.

 On Thursday, the US-India in their joint statement following President Biden and PM Modi called for action against extremist groups based in Pakistan such as the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad and said Islamabad  should crack down on extremists that target New Delhi.

Pakistan's Defense Minister recalled that it was Narendra Modi who oversaw the killings of thousands of Muslims and rape of Muslim women in Gujarat during his tenure as the Chief Minister and in recognition of those atrocities, the US, at that time, had imposed ban on issuing a visa to Narendra Modi.

He added that the Indian Prime Minister continues to target the minorities especially the Muslims. There is an undeclared curfew in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir and the people there are living under restrictions of all sorts in blatant violation of human rights.

He said the Indian government is perpetrating state terrorism in illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

Asif also criticized Washington for not acknowledging sacrifices rendered by Pakistan during their two wars in Afghanistan and said Islamabad today is paying a heavy price of serving as a frontline state in the two Afghan wars.  

He said the terrorism entered Pakistan because it acted as an ally of the United States in the war on terrorism. He regretted that the sacrifices of Pakistan were not acknowledged, according to Radio Pakistan.

The Defence Minister said the elections are due in the country. He said whosoever forms the next government, it should pursue stable relations with the United States but keep Pakistan's interest first