We are concerned about the rise of extremist nationalism in India & its expansionist designs for the region: FO Spokesperson
ISLAMABAD, Dec 22, (SABAH): Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch has said that we are concerned about the rise of extremist nationalism in India and its expansionist designs for the region. Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that India also continues with its policy of coercion and intimidation of the people of Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). This week, it killed three Kashmiri youth in fake encounter in Shopian district in IIOJK, she said. She said that the occupation authorities are sealing properties owned by Kashmiris including those dedicated to educational institutions offering free education to disadvantaged Kashmiris. A property owned by Late Hurriyat Leader, Syed Ali Shah Gillani, located in Barzulla Srinagar, has also been designated for closure, she said.
This was stated by FO Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch while addressing a weekly press briefing on Thursday.
She said that the media would recall that Syed Ali Gillani was not allowed a proper burial by the Indian occupation forces when he died in captivity last year. His family continues to be harassed for their contribution to the just struggle of Kashmiris to seek their inalienable right to self-determination.
She said that India must be held accountable for these grave injustices. The only way to lasting peace in South Asia is by granting the people of the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir their inalienable right to self-determination as enshrined in the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
She said that India masquerades itself as a victim of terrorism, yet it is itself a perpetrator of repression in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and a sponsor and financier of terrorist groups in South Asia, including Pakistan. We are concerned about the rise of extremist nationalism in India and its expansionist designs for the region. We still await condemnation from the Indian leadership on the recent call for violence and assassination by a BJP leader from Bhagpat, she said.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that we begin with the ongoing visit of Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to the United States. The primary purpose of the visit was to attend the Ministerial Conference of the G-77 & China at the UN Headquarters in New York and to hold consultations for the International Conference on Climate Resilient Pakistan to be held next month in Geneva.
She said that the Foreign Minister chaired the Ministerial Conference of the G-77 & China on 15-16 December 2022. The Conference was convened by Pakistan in its capacity as the Chair of the G-77, the largest bloc of developing countries within the UN system.
She said that at the Ministerial Conference, the Foreign Minister highlighted the need for a multilateral mechanism for sustainable management of the sovereign debt of developing countries and for lowering of borrowing costs for them. He called for fulfillment of the agreed Official Development Assistance (ODA) target of 0.7 percent of the GNI of developed countries; promoting sustainable infrastructure investments; and an equitable international Information Technology regime.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that the Foreign Minister also emphasized full implementation of the climate change agenda and climate commitments in accordance with the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities. He added that restructuring the international trading system is critical to revive export-led growth in developing countries. The Ministerial Conference adopted a concrete outcome document spelling out the Group’s strategy to address common challenges in achieving the SDGs in face of present challenges and building resilience to respond to future crises.
She said that on 16 December 2022, the Foreign Minister met with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. They discussed the International Conference on Climate Resilient Pakistan and international support for Pakistan’s long-term recovery, rehabilitation and restoration based on the Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA). Foreign Minsiter also met with UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina J. Mohammed and President of the UN General Assembly Csaba Korösi.
She said that the Foreign Minister held bilateral meetings with counterparts from developing countries, including Cuba, the incoming Chair of G-77 & China for the next year. He briefed his interlocutors about Pakistan’s relief and recovery efforts following the recent floods.
As we conclude our chairmanship of G-77 & China, we can say with satisfaction that throughout 2022, Pakistan played a leading role in highlighting the issues of importance for developing countries such as sustainable development and climate change. An important achievement this year was the establishment of a Loss and Damage Fund at COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, where Pakistan led the cause of developing countries and forging a historic consensus.
She said that Pakistan’s chairmanship of G-77 & China concludes this month. However, it will continue its traditionally active and constructive multilateral diplomacy in advancing the common interests of the Global South at the United Nations.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had a very productive visit to Washington DC. He had a busy visit schedule which included engagements with the Administration and members of the US Congress, speaking engagements at two prestigious think-tanks, interaction with Pakistani-American community leaders and DC based think-tank community as well as interviews with leading media outlets.
She said that the main purpose of the visit to Washington was to continue discussions on Pakistan-US cooperation in flood relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts and enlist US support for the International Conference on Climate Resilient Pakistan. The visit also provided an opportunity to review the entire scope of bilateral relations and discuss important regional and global developments.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that on the Administration side, the Foreign Minister had a comprehensive conversation with Secretary Blinken during which both sides covered a wide range of issues of mutual interest, and meetings with other senior Administration officials including USAID Administrator Samantha Power, Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and Counselor to the Secretary of State, Derek Chollet.
She said that during Foreign Minister’s September visit to the United States, a bipartisan group of US Senators had invited him to visit Washington DC again in December to discuss further cooperation on flood relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction. The Foreign Minister, therefore, held several important meetings at the US Congress. These included a joint meeting with a bipartisan group of senators including Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, and Democratic Senators Bob Menendez, Jeanne Shaheen and Tim Kaine.
She said that the Foreign Minister held separate meetings with Senator Chris Van Hollen, Senator Gary Peters and Senator Ben Ray LuJan and a joint meeting with Congressman Brad Sherman and Congresswoman Shiela Jackson Lee. He also held a virtual meeting with Congressman Ami Bera, Chairperson of House Subcommittee dealing with Asia.
On the think-tanks side, the Foreign Minister addressed and engaged with scholars and think tank experts at The Heritage Foundation and the Atlantic Council.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that the Foreign Minister had interactive sessions with the Pakistani-American community leaders, representatives of leading think tanks and journalists from prominent media outlets.
She said that the visit, concluded on Thursday, was another important step towards further strengthening Pakistan’sbroad-based bilateral ties with the United States.
She said that this week Pakistan will host two important dignitaries from Central Asia. On 22-23 December 2022, Serik Zhumangarin, Deputy Prime-Minister for Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan will lead a high-level delegation for the Pakistan-Kazakhstan Intergovernmental Joint Commission (IJC) – an important mechanism to promote mutually beneficial cooperation.
She said that the 11th Session of the Commission will be co-chaired by Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and our Minister for Economic Affairs, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq. The Meeting will focus on cooperation in trade and investment, agriculture, energy, transport and industry, science and technology, banking, higher education, and tourism.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that on 26th December 2022, Deputy Prime Minister for Trade and Investment of the Republic of Uzbekistan Jamshid Khodjaev will arrive in Islamabad for a two-day bilateral visit. He will lead a high-level delegation, which will hold talks on a range of issues including trade, investment, and connectivity. The visit is taking place in follow up of the important understandings reached between the President of Uzbekistan and Prime Minister of Pakistan during their meetings held in September 2022 in Uzbekistan and in October 2022 in Kazakhstan.
She said that on Wednesday, we released a statement expressing our disappointment on the suspension of university and higher education for female students in Afghanistan. Our position on this issue has been clear and consistent. We strongly believe that every man and woman has the inherent right to education under the injunctions of Islam. “We strongly urge the Afghan authorities to revisit this decision. We cannot deprive the enterprising and innovative Afghan women the right to progress and to follow their dreams. They have full and equal rights to participate in all aspects of life” she said.
She said that last week, the Indian delegation once again politicized an international forum to project its agenda to target and malign Pakistan. For the last several years, India politicized the FATF process to prevent Pakistan’s exit from the Grey List and is following a similar agenda at the UN Security Council.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that for a country that has a grandiose vision about itself and its place in the world, India has been unable to act as a responsible member of the international community that can assume new privileges that it aspires.