In a major embarrassment for the Imran Khan government, his Interior Minister Brigadier (Retd) Ijaz Ahmed Shah has admitted that Pakistan has failed to garner support from the international community on its narrative about Kashmir, saying despite Islamabad's efforts the world "rather believes India".
In an interview with Pakistani news channel Hum News on Thursday, Brig (retd) Shah said Pakistan's ruling elite had destroyed the nation. "We say that they (India) clamped curfew, that there is no medicine, but people (across the world) don't believe us, and rather believe India," he said in response to a question.
Brig (retd) Shah's remarks came after Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan claimed that 58 countries support Pakistan over its stand on the Kashmir issue.
With an intention to spread Islamabad's "false allegations, concocted charges and fabricated narrative", Imran Khan in his August 26 address to the nation said he will raise the Kashmir issue at every international forum, including at the UN General Assembly.
Pakistan has desperately been trying to get international attention by spreading its "false and offensive rhetoric" after India abrogated provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution and ended the 'temporary special status' of Jammu and Kashmir on August 5 and turning the state into two union territories - Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
India has categorically told the international community that the scrapping of Article 370 was a sovereign and internal matter and also advised Pakistan to accept the reality.
Ijaz Shah, who hold one of the topmost ministries in Pakistan's government, also admitted on national television that Pakistan spent millions on proscribed terror groups like Hafiz Saeed's Jamaat ud Dawa (JuD) and should now bring them into the mainstream.
"We have spent millions of rupees on JuD," he said while responding to a question.
The minister is considered as a powerful minister and is close to both Imran Khan and the military establishment.
Stone Pelting, Strikes Stopped Following Article 370 Abrogation: Centre Article 370 Abrogation Watershed Moment In Nation's History: PM Modi Exclusive: Amit Shah Explains Why PM Modi's Kashmir Policy Has Been A Success Mamata Banerjee's Sunday Ultimatum To CBI For Death Penalty In Rape-Murder How Extreme Weather Is Leading To Rise In Child Marriages In Pakistan Who Is Jasveen Sangha, "Ketamine Queen" Charged With Matthew Perry's Death JD Vance's Bestselling Tale From Rags To Riches Can Be His Political Tool Trump Made Rs 2 Crore From Bible Sales, Holds Rs 8 Crore In Crypto: Report Malaika Transforms Stunning Street Style To Ethnic Fashion In Melbourne Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.