Pakistan will continue to raise its voice against the grave HR violations in IIOJK: FO Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch
ISLAMABAD, Mar 17 (SABAH): Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch has said that Pakistan will continue to raise its voice against the grave human rights violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). We will also continue to extend political, diplomatic and moral support to our Kashmiri brothers and sisters for the just and peaceful settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the United Nations Security Council Resolutions, she said.
This was stated by FO Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch during the weekly press briefing on Friday. FO spokesperson said that Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has just concluded his visit to Mauritania where he was leading the Pakistan delegation to the 49th Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM).
She said that after Pakistan’s successful tenure as the Chair of 48th OIC CFM, the Foreign Minister handed over the Chairmanship to the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, the incoming Chair of the 49th OIC CFM.
She said that in his statement, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto underscored the importance of the unity of Islamic Ummah and the role of OIC in overcoming regional and global challenges to peace, security and development. He called for peaceful resolution of lingering disputes and highlighted the case of Palestine and Kashmir as common causes of the OIC. Foreign Minister also drew attention to the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan and called for OIC action against Islamophobia and climate change. He proposed that the OIC create a “Committee for the Future” to chart a long-term strategy for sustainable growth and development of OIC members.
FO spokesperson said that Foreign Minister also attended the OIC Contact Group on Kashmir where he called for an end to human rights violations in IIOJK and underlined OIC’s important role in resolution of the dispute in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people and the relevant resolutions of OIC and UN Security Council.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that in another important development at the OIC CFM, a senior Pakistani diplomat Ambassador Aftab Ahmad Khokher has been elected as OIC’s Assistant Secretary General for Science and Technology for 2024-2029. Ambassador Khokher is currently serving as Pakistan’s Ambassador to Austria and Permanent Representative of Pakistan to Vienna based international organizations.
She said that Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Hina Rabbani Khar led the Pakistan delegation to 22nd Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers’ Meeting (CFAMM) held on 15 March 2023 in London.
She said that the Minister of State presented Pakistan’s perspective on global and regional developments and their implications for developing countries including Pakistan. She called on the Commonwealth to take the lead in developing a new fiscally responsible model for sustainable growth that addresses the issues of debt burden on developing countries. The Minister of State outlined the importance of international collaboration on climate change and availability of significant, additional and predictable financial resources for climate adaptation and mitigation. She also called for early operationalization of the ‘Loss and Damage Fund’ and associated arrangements.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that the Commonwealth Ministerial Meeting endorsed establishment of three working groups on reforms to modernize the Commonwealth, with Pakistan leading the working group on administration and programme.
She said that Pakistan-US Energy Security Dialogue was held on 15 March 2023 in Islamabad. Minister for Energy, Engineer Khurram Dastgir Khan, and the US Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources Geoffery Pyatt co-chaired the dialogue. The two sides discussed bilateral energy cooperation especially in advancing renewable energy transition, including through the US-Pakistan “Green Alliance” framework.
She said that Pakistan-US Climate and Environment Working Group also met on 16 March 2023 in Islamabad. Minister for Climate Change, Senator Sherry Rehman led the Pakistan delegation while the US delegation was led by Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environment and Scientific Affairs (OEC) Monica Madina. Agenda included discussions on climate matters and energy transition, water management and efficiency, agriculture, air quality, and solid waste management including plastics recycling. The two sides agreed to continue deepening their bilateral partnership through the “Green Alliance” framework.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that the two delegations also called on the Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, who encouraged investment in energy sector and welcomed the ongoing dialogue and cooperation between Pakistan and the United States.
FO Spokesperson said that on Thursday, Pakistan and Australia held 8th Session of Pakistan-Australia Senior Officials Talks (SOTs) in Islamabad. Additional Foreign Secretary (Asia-Pacific) Mumtaz Zahra Baloch led the Pakistan side, while the Australian side was led by First Assistant Secretary for North and South Asia, Gary Cowan.
She said that the two sides had a comprehensive exchange of views on bilateral cooperation, including high level exchanges, cooperation in political, economic, development, science & technology, education, defence, security and counter-terrorism, migration and climate change.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that the two sides also briefed each other on their respective foreign policy priorities and discussed cooperation in multilateral settings. Additional Secretary briefed the Australian side on the regional situation in South Asia including the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan and the grave and systematic violations of human rights in IIOJK.
She said that on Thursday, Australia and Pakistan also held Trade Talks in Islamabad. The two sides discussed bilateral trade and investment matters with special focus on cooperation in agriculture and information and communication technology. Enhanced trade access and issues relating to mutual protection of intellectual property rights especially Geographical Indicators for basmati rice were also discussed.
She said that Pakistan has participated recently in SCO meetings – some in person and some virtually.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that Justice Munib Akhtar of the Supreme Court of Pakistan represented Pakistan virtually at the SCO Meeting of the Chief Justices of the Supreme Courts held from 10-12 March 2023 in New Delhi. In his statement, he expressed support for the rule of law and for promoting accessibility of legal systems in SCO member states. He shared national experiences and discussed best practices to address the contemporary legal challenges in access to justice.
She said that on 14 March, Minister for Energy Khurram Dastgir Khan virtually participated in the Third SCO Ministers of Energy meeting hosted by India. In his remarks, he expressed Pakistan’s desire to cooperate closely with SCO states in the energy sector especially in clean and renewable energy.
Said that on Friday, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Tourism and Sports Aun Chaudhry is virtually representing Pakistan in the SCO Meeting of the Heads of Tourism Administration. As an active member of the SCO, Pakistan will continue to participate in SCO activities and constructively contribute to their outcomes.
She said that Pakistan has welcomed the normalization of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran and commends China’s visionary leadership in coordinating this historic agreement. We believe that this diplomatic breakthrough will contribute to peace and stability in the region and beyond. We hope this normalization would define a template for regional cooperation and harmony, she said.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that the first International Day to Combat Islamophobia was commemorated in Pakistan and around the world on 15th March. Last year, at Pakistan’s initiative on behalf of OIC, the UN General Assembly unanimously designated 15th March as the “International Day to Combat Islamophobia”.
She said that Pakistan is deeply concerned at the worldwide increase in racism, xenophobia and violence motivated by Islamophobia, which is manifesting itself in the negative profiling and stigmatization of Muslims, vandalization of Islamic symbols and holy sites, discriminatory laws and policies, ban on Hijab, and attacks on mosques. We are also concerned about rising hate crime against Muslims including Quran burnings in Europe. We call for fostering global dialogue to promote a culture of peace and tolerance and to raise awareness to combat Islamophobia, she said.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that in this context, we condemn the recent remarks made by a BJP leader and Deputy Chief Minister in Karnataka, K S Eshwarappa. These remarks are yet another manifestation of the rising Islamophobia in India. She said that Pakistan is deeply concerned at the alarming rise in communal violence and hatred directed against Muslims in India, who are being systematically stigmatized and marginalized on account of their faith. We call on India to take immediate steps to ensure safety, security, and well-being of minorities and allow them to profess and practice their faith in peace, she said.
Meanwhile, human rights abuses in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) continue unabated, she said.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that last week, in their so-called ‘cordon-and-search’ operations in Baramulla district in IIOJK, the Indian forces arbitrarily arrested two Kashmiri youth, Khurshid Ahmad Khan and Reyaz Ahmad Khan. They also raided the houses of All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) leader Muhammad Iqbal Mir, religious leader Qazi Yasir, and jailed Jammu and Kashmir Salvation Movement Chairman, Zaffar Akber Butt. This intimidation and harassment of Kashmiris and their leadership must end.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch announced that Foreign Secretary, Dr. Asad Majeed Khan is currently in Beijing to lead the Pakistan delegation for the Bilateral Political Consultations (BPC) with China. The Chinese side is led by Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong. The two sides will have an in-depth exchange of views on the entire spectrum of bilateral ties and on important regional and global developments. Foreign Secretary will call on State Councillor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang, meet CIDCA Chairman, Lou Zhaouhui and engage with Chinese academia and think tanks.