Kashmiris have an inalienable right to self-determination, as enshrined in the relevant UNSC resolutions: Mumtaz Zahra Baloch

ISLAMABAD, May 24 (SABAH): Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch has said that the Kashmiris have an inalienable right to self-determination, as enshrined in the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. She said that the final disposition of Jammu and Kashmir is to be made in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions and as per the aspirations of the Kashmiri people. She said that Pakistan rejects the Indian Supreme Court’s order of 1 May 2024, published on 21 May 2024, dismissing the petitions seeking review of its judgment of 11 December 2023 on the status of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

This was stated by FO Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch while addressing the weekly press briefing on Friday. She said that this was an active week in Pakistan’s diplomacy. She said that Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif paid an official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Thursday, at the invitation of the President of the UAE, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The Prime Minister held a bilateral meeting with the President and held meetings with UAE investors and entrepreneurs.

FO spokesperson said that the two leaders underscored the importance of galvanizing cooperation and strategic partnership, particularly in the fields of information and communication technologies, artificial intelligence, renewable energy and tourism. They reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring meaningful implementation of investment cooperation agreements in the areas of Energy, Port Operations Projects, Wastewater Treatment, Food Security, Logistics, Minerals, and Banking & Financial Services, signed in November 2023. His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan assured UAE’s support in all circumstances and made a commitment of investing US$ 10 billion in multiple sectors in Pakistan.

She said that Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif visited the Islamic Republic of Iran on 22 May 2024 to pay condolences on the demise of President Dr. Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian and their colleagues. He met with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Acting President Mohammad Mokhber and offered condolences on behalf of the people and the Government of Pakistan.

She said that the Prime Minister was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mohammad Ishaq Dar to both Iran and the UAE.

Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar led the Pakistan delegation to the regular meeting of the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) from 20-21 May 2024 in Astana, Kazakhstan. He addressed the CFM and held bilateral meetings with the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart and Foreign Minister Murat Abugaliuly Nurtleu. He also held sideline meetings with the Foreign Ministers of Belarus, China, Russia, Tajikistan, and the Kyrgyz Republic.

She said that from Astana, the Deputy Prime Minister flew to Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic on 21 May 2024 with Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Zheenbek Kulubaev. He also met with Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Edil Baisalov and Health Minister Alymkadyr Beishenaliev. The focus of these meetings was the welfare of Pakistanis in the Kyrgyz Republic, especially the victims of last week’s mob attack against foreigners in Bishkek.

Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Türkiye, Hakan Fidan, undertook his first bilateral visit to Pakistan on 19-20 May 2024. He called on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Chairman Senate Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani, and held delegation-level talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar. He also met the military leadership. The two sides agreed to further strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation in trade, investment, defence and security domains. They also assessed preparations for the upcoming 7th session of the Pakistan-Türkiye High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC) to be held in Islamabad in the near future.

And lastly, the Secretary General of SAARC, Mohammad Golam Sarwar, visited Pakistan from 20-24 May 2024, for the customary introductory visit of the new SAARC Secretary General after his assumption of office. He held talks with Foreign Secretary Muhammad Syrus Sajjad Qazi.

Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that Pakistan welcomes the announcement made by Ireland, Spain, and Norway on recognizing the State of Palestine. We also welcome the recent announcements of recognition of the State of Palestine by the Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and Barbados.

She said that these recent announcements serve as another milestone in the decades-long quest of the people of Palestine for their inalienable right to self-determination. The Gaza genocide and the dire humanitarian situation there have underlined the urgency of moving towards the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.

She said that the State of Palestine is now recognized by an overwhelming majority of the UN member states. Time has therefore come to accord full membership to the State of Palestine at the United Nations and other international organizations as called for by the UN General Assembly in its recent resolution. We, therefore, reiterate our call to the United Nations Security Council to positively respond to this growing international sentiment.

Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that Pakistan rejects the Indian Supreme Court’s order of 1 May 2024, published on 21 May 2024, dismissing the petitions seeking review of its judgment of 11 December 2023 on the status of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

We reject the fresh order of the India Supreme Court just as we had rejected its order of 11 December 2023. The two verdicts fail to recognize the internationally recognised disputed nature of Jammu and Kashmir, she said.

Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that Kashmiris have an inalienable right to self-determination, as enshrined in the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. The final disposition of Jammu and Kashmir is to be made in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions and as per the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.

She said that India has no right to make unilateral decisions on the status of a disputed territory against the will of the other parties to the dispute i.e. Kashmiri people and Pakistan. Nor can India abdicate its international legal obligations on the pretext of domestic legislation and judicial verdicts, she said.

She said that the Indian Supreme Court’s judgments or orders cannot distract the international community’s attention from the gross and systematic human rights violations being perpetrated in IIOJK. Replying to a question, the Spokesperson said assembly elections and restoration of statehood cannot server as substitute to the grant of right to self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

She said India should faithfully implement the UN Security Council resolutions and stop intimidating the Kashmiri people.

Mumtaz Zahra Baloch announced that the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Jeyhun Bayramov, will undertake an official visit to Islamabad from 29-30 May 2024. He will hold talks with the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar and call on the Pakistani leadership.