Pak once again strongly rejects the recent baseless accusations & unfounded assertions made by India’s Defence Minister & COAS
ISLAMABAD, Jan 16 (SABAH): Pakistan has once again strongly rejected the recent baseless accusations and unfounded assertions made by India’s Defence Minister and Chief of Army Staff.
At his weekly media briefing in Islamabad on Thursday, Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said Jammu and Kashmir remains an internationally recognized disputed territory, whose final status is to be determined in accordance with relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
The FO Spokesperson said in this context, India has no legal or moral grounds to assert fictitious claims over the territories of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Replying a question, about relations with Afghanistan, he categorically rejected the reports of any annexation of Wakhan Corridor, calling it a part of neighbouring Afghanistan.
The FO Spokesperson said Wakhan is part of Afghan territory. He said Afghanistan is a neighbouring country and we recognize its sovereignty and territorial integrity. He added there is no question of Pakistan having designs on one of its neighbours.
The FO Spokesperson, however, reiterated the call for the Afghan government to take action against terrorist groups enjoying safe sanctuaries there.
Shafqat Ali Khan said Pakistan and Afghanistan understand the importance of relations and want to nurture good ties, but the key problem was the terrorists’ sanctuaries on Afghan soil. He said both the countries are in contact on the matter through an ongoing multilayered engagement.
To a query, he said the visit of the Bangladesh military delegation to Pakistan is an important visit. Bangladesh is an important country for Pakistan and we aspire to have very strong, vibrant and good relations with it. The exchange of military delegation and military cooperation is part of the overall regular exchange between the states.
Answering yet another question about statement of Russian Foreign Minister regarding relations with Pakistan, the FO Spokesperson said we welcome it. He said both Pakistan and Russia have worked hard to put the relationship on solid and stable foundation and these relations are improving.
To another question, he said that Pakistan would work to send more humanitarian convoys to Gaza once the relief aid starts moving into the territory following the ceasefire deal.
Replying another question, the FO Spokesperson said Pakistan’s Ambassador in Washington will attend the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump.
Shafqat Ali Khan said that the Ministry of Federal Education & Professional Training hosted the International Conference on “Girls’ Education in Muslim Communities: Challenges and Opportunities,” from 11th –12th January 2025 in Islamabad.
The global summit was attended by the Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif; Secretary General OIC Hissein Brahim Taha; Muslim World League Secretary General and Chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars Sheikh Dr. Mohammed bin Abdul Karim Al-Issa, besides high-level officials, ministers and dignitaries from a number of other Islamic countries.
While addressing the meeting of the visiting ministers and authorities of education from various Muslim countries, the Prime Minister highlighted the significance of female education as emphasized upon by the Islamic teachings and the instructions of the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him). He highlighted a number of reforms undertaken by the government in the education sector.
Islamabad Declaration, adopted by the Conference, comprises of several commitments agreed upon by the participating countries. It emphasizes the empowerment of women in education across all levels.
The Declaration underscored girls’ education as a fundamental right protected by divine laws, Islamic teachings, and international charters and further emphasized aligning education with Islamic principles, national priorities, and global advancements, aiming to empower women and foster stable and peaceful communities.
On the sidelines of the Conference, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif met with Mr Hissein Brahim Taha, Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and Secretary General of the Muslim World League, Sheikh Dr. Muhammad bin Abdul Karim Al-Issa.
FO Spokesperson said that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar also held a meeting with the Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Hissein Brahim Taha.
The Fourth Round of Pakistan-China Bilateral Political Consultations (BPC) and the Fifth meeting of the CPEC Joint Working Group on International Cooperation and Coordination (JWG-ICC) was held on 10th January 2025 in Beijing. Foreign Secretary Ms. Amna Baloch led the Pakistan delegation, while Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong led the Chinese side.
The two sides noted with satisfaction the positive trajectory of Pakistan-China relations and reaffirmed the commitment to further deepen the All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership. They reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral cooperation and agreed to further strengthen the mutual partnerships in developing CPEC. The two sides underscored the need to reinforce their mutual coordination at the multilateral forums, including at the United Nations Security Council and exchanged views on a range of regional and international issues.
Shafqat Ali Khan said that Pakistan welcomes the Gaza ceasefire reached on 15 January 2025 and calls for its immediate and full implementation. It is hoped that the truce would lead to permanent ceasefire and help in scaling up humanitarian assistance. He said that indiscriminate use of force by Israeli occupation forces has caused unprecedented loss of lives and property and displacements of hundreds of thousands of innocent civilian Palestinians. Israel’s expansionist designs have destabilised the entire region.
Shafqat Ali Khan said that Pakistan reiterates its support for a just, comprehensive, and durable solution to the Palestinian issue, leading to the establishment of a sovereign State of Palestine based on the pre-June 1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
He said that Pakistan-UK friendship is characterized by warmth, cordiality, robust cooperation and trust.
Shafqat Ali Khan as such, we note with deep concern the increasingly racist and Islamophobic political and media commentary in the UK that is aimed to conflating the reprehensible actions of a few individuals with the entire 1.7 million British Pakistani diaspora.