The 2022 Annual Report published by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) highlighted Pakistan’s continued support for cross-border terrorism against India, which is restricting the normalisation of ties between the neighbours.
It further said that New Delhi seeks “normal neighbourly relations” with Islamabad by resolving any pending issues “bilaterally and peacefully.” Nevertheless, it laid the onus to create a “conducive environment” that is “free of terror and violence” on Pakistan.
MEA releases its annual report 2022. On Pakistan says the country "is yet to show sincerity in delivering justice to the families of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks" pic.twitter.com/LOdsKxUHZX
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) March 13, 2023
Cross Border Terrorism
Delving further into the allegations, the MEA document claimed that Pakistan has not held up to its January 2004 commitment to ensure that its soil is not used for terrorist activities against India.
For instance, it said there had been no progress in restricting infiltration and illegal arms smuggling across the borders. Further, the MEA alleged that Islamabad had not taken sufficient measures to hold accountable the orchestrators of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.
To this end, the report noted that India has repeatedly called for “credible, irreversible, and verifiable” actions to contain cross-border terrorism, which it also brings up in several bilateral, regional, and international forums.
India slammed Pakistan today at the Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly in Bahrain. Pakistan referred to Kashmir in its habitual manner. India through Right to Reply slammed Pakistan terming it an exporter of terror and reiterating that Pak has no locus standi on Jammu & Kashmir. pic.twitter.com/RsAXZy4u0H
— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) March 13, 2023
Unilateral Actions and Hostile Propaganda
The release said Islamabad is promoting “hostile and fabricated propaganda to vilify India” and distract from its own “political and economic failures.” In a likely reference to Pakistan’s repeated references to Jammu and Kashmir in international forums such as the UN, it reiterated that New Delhi rejects all such statements on internal matters of India.
Humanitarian Issues Concerning Prisoners and Fishermen
The report stated that as of July 2022, Pakistan has custody of 49 civilian prisoners and 633 fishermen from India. Meanwhile, India has 309 civilian prisoners and 95 fishermen from Pakistan.
The MEA celebrated the persistent repatriation efforts, which led to the return of over 2,160 fishermen to India. It added that the government sought to ensure consular access to expedite the return of those remaining in Pakistan.
India, Pakistan exchange list of prisoners:
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) January 1, 2023
MEA says
-339 Pak civilian prisoners & 95 fishermen in Indian custody
-Asks Pak to release 631 Indian fishermen & 2 Indian civilian prisoners who have completed sentences
-Give consular access to 30 fishermen & 22 civilian prisoners https://t.co/6gzg9LQiqa pic.twitter.com/XO6Ty8B3cl
Religious Pilgrimages
Amid these differences, India and Pakistan have been facilitating the movement of religious pilgrims across the border under the 1974 Bilateral Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines. Resultingly, 4,900 Sikh pilgrims from India visited Pakistan in 2022, while 400 Pakistanis visited India.
Indus Water Commission
Another aspect of cooperation that has existed despite the two sides’ differences concerns discussions on water sharing in the Indus River. The MEA report addressed the 117th and 118th meetings of the Permanent Indus Commission in Islamabad held in March and May of last year.
India-Pakistan Indus Water Commission meeting begins in New Delhi. pic.twitter.com/t6nMJlUnwb
— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) March 23, 2021
While the release mentioned that the meeting hosted technical discussions on ongoing projects and hydrological and flood data, no further information was given about the developments or progress on controversial issues.