Oppression in IIOJK continues unabated: FO Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch

ISLAMABAD, May 11 (SABAH): Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch has said that the oppression in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) continues unabated. She said that Pakistan will continue to raise its voice against these grave and systematic human rights violations in 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” FO spokesperson said.

This was stated by Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch while addressing the weekly press briefing on Thursday.

Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that last week was an active week in Pakistan’s diplomacy. Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari traveled to Goa, India to attend the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) Meeting. Also last week, Pakistan hosted the Foreign Minister of China and the Acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan.

“I will begin with the Foreign Minister’s participation in the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) Meeting. The agenda of the Meeting included discussions on issues of regional security, economic cooperation and connectivity as well as SCO’s stance on global economic and political developments” she sad.

​“In his statement, the Foreign Minister highlighted Pakistan’s vision for peace and prosperity in the SCO region. He proposed building of efficient transport corridors and reliable supply chains in the region and stressed that CPEC could be a force multiplier for regional connectivity” she said.

Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that Foreign Minister called for comprehensive and collective approach for eradicating the menace of terrorism and advised against weaponizing terrorism for diplomatic point scoring. He also condemned the willful provocations and incitement to hate and called for collective fight against fascism and historical revisionism that is leading to violent nationalism.

She said that the Foreign Minister emphasized that unilateral and illegal measures in violation of international law and the UN Security Council Resolutions that also ran counter to the SCO objectives.

Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that on the sidelines of CFM, Foreign Minister interacted with his counterparts from China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan as well as Secretary General of SCO.

She said that the CFM afforded Pakistan an important opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to SCO and present its vision for addressing major regional and global issues. Since becoming a member in 2017, Pakistan has actively and constructively participated in all SCO activities and mechanisms and worked for enhanced cooperation in pursuance of SCO’s multisectoral agenda.

Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that during the visit of China’s State Councillor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang, the two Foreign Ministers co-chaired the 4th round of Pakistan-China Strategic Dialogue, covering a wide range of bilateral issues.

She said that the two sides reaffirmed the All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership; agreed to develop a roadmap for multidimensional cooperation; and discussed the evolving regional and global landscape. They reaffirmed enduring support on issues concerning each other’s core national interests. Welcoming the completion of a decade of CPEC in 2023, the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to high-quality development of CPEC.

She said that the delegation led by Acting Afghan Foreign Minister, Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi included the Acting Afghan Minister for Commerce and Industry, Haji Nooruddin Azizi, and senior officials from the Afghan Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Transport and Trade. The two sides discussed at length bilateral cooperation in the political, economic, trade, connectivity, education, peace and security including counter terrorism domains.

Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that the 5th China-Pakistan-Afghanistan Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue was held on 6th May 2023. The three sides agreed to advance political engagement, counterterrorism cooperation and enhance trade, investment and connectivity under the trilateral framework.

She said that the three sides underscored the need to tackle security challenges posing a serious threat to regional peace and stability; not to allow their territories to be used by any individual, group or party including the TTP and the ETIM, to conduct terrorist activities and actions.

Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that the Ethiopian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Misganu Arega, is currently in Islamabad on an official visit. The delegation comprises Ministers of State for Science and Innovation and Trade and Regional Integration, and members of the business community.

She said that on Tuesday, the Ethiopian Foreign Minister called on Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. His programme today includes meetings with Minister of State Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar and inauguration of the Embassy of Ethiopia. The two sides will undertake discussions on a range of bilateral issues of mutual interest, with a focus on trade and cooperation in science and technology. The visit also marks the arrival of inaugural direct flight between Karachi and Addis Ababa operated by Ethiopian Airlines.

Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that coming to the situation in IIOJK, the oppression in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) continues unabated.

She said that since our last press briefing, the occupation forces have killed at least six Kashmiri youth in Rajouri, Kupwara and Baramulla districts. They continued their cordon and search operations in Rajouri and Poonch districts, harassing the local population. Six shops of a pro-freedom activist, Fayaz Ahmed Magray, were attached by India’s National Investigation Agency in Pulwama district, she said. She said that these human rights violations must end.

FO spokesperson again categorically stated that there will be no talks with the terrorist organizations, which do not respect country’s laws and the constitution.

She said it was already agreed in the 5th China-Pakistan-Afghanistan Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue held in Islamabad, which underscored the need to tackle security challenges, posing a serious threat to regional peace and stability and not to allow their territories to be used by any individual, group or party including the TTP and the ETIM to conduct terrorist activities and actions.

Replying to a question, she said Pakistan has the full ability to deal with all domestic challenges in accordance with our laws and constitution.

Answering yet another question about Syria’s return to Arab League folder, the Spokesperson termed it a positive development and expressed the hope that it would contribute to regional peace and security.