Arrest of Kulbhushan Jadhav is the proof of Indian terrorism in Pakistan: Mumtaz Zahra Baloch

ISLAMABAD, April 28 (SABAH): Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch has said that in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), the human rights violations continue 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. She said that the arrest of Kulbhushan Jadhav is the proof of Indian terrorism in Pakistan, adding that Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav found involved in terrorist activities in Pakistan and was arrested. She said that the remarks of Indian foreign minister are unwanted and baseless. She said that Pakistan is strictly following the impartial policy regarding the dispute between Russia and Ukraine, adding that we have not provided weapons to any party.

This was stated by FO Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch while addressing the weekly press briefing on Friday.

“I will begin my briefing today with an update on the situation on the evacuation of Pakistani nationals from Sudan. This morning an aircraft carrying 149 Pakistani nationals evacuated from Sudan arrived in Karachi. Two other flights carrying around 200 Pakistanis are expected to arrive later today. One of them originated from Port Sudan and the other from Jeddah to bring back Pakistanis who had earlier been evacuated there” Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said.

She said that the evacuation of Pakistanis from a difficult security situation in Sudan has been made possible as a result of a robust inter-agency process led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

She said that our evacuation plan has been implemented in phases: In the first phase of the operation, over 800 Pakistanis were transported from Khartoum to Port Sudan, which was relatively safe. The second phase of the evacuation operation consisted of transporting Pakistani nationals from Port Sudan to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, or directly to Pakistan.

“Today’s flights, operating from Port Sudan via Jeddah, mark the first part of this second phase. Additional flights are planned. Meanwhile, evacuation from Port Sudan to Jeddah continues including on ferries operated by the Saudi Government. Some passengers will also be transferred onboard a Chinese ship from Port Sudan to Jeddah” Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said.

“We remain engaged with friendly countries in the region and are especially grateful to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for facilitating this process by providing transport by ferry from Port Sudan to Jeddah and also hosting Pakistani nationals until their repatriation to Pakistan” she said.

Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to lead the inter-agency process in coordinating this operation. Ambassador Meer Bahrose Regi’s team in Khartoum and Port Sudan have worked tirelessly to facilitate this process and will continue to provide relief to Pakistanis who remain in Sudan until their evacuation to Pakistan. Our Consulate General Jeddah will continue to coordinate with Saudi authorities and extend assistance to Pakistanis during transit through Jeddah.  

Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that for the fourth consecutive year, the Indian authorities prevented Kashmiris from attending the congregational Eid prayers at Srinagar’s historic Jamia Masjid. Earlier, the occupation authorities had imposed curbs and restrictions on the freedom of religion during the holy month of Ramzan as well. We urge the Indian authorities to bring an end to the restrictions imposed on Kashmiris that prevent them from freely practicing their religion, she said.

Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that said that last week, around 40 individuals, including women, were arbitrarily arrested in the so-called cordon-and-search operations. The Indian authorities also attached the properties of two pro-freedom Kashmiris, Syed Shakeel Yousuf and Syed Shahid Yousuf who remain in arbitrary detention. The NGO office of another detainee and a prominent human rights defender, Khurram Pervez, was raided in Budgam.

“We are gravely concerned over these developments. These acts reflect a consistent Indian strategy to suppress the fundamental freedoms in the occupied territory and terrorize the local population” she said.

Mumtaz Zahra Baloch announced that Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif will undertake a visit to the United Kingdom to attend the coronation of His Majesty King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla on 6 May 2023.

She said that in London, the Prime Minister will participate in an event for Commonwealth leaders on 5th May 2023. He is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with leaders participating in these celebrations.

Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that Pakistan and the UK have a long history of relations strongly anchored in the dynamic Pakistani-British community. We see the British monarch and the royal family as friends of Pakistan and its people and look forward to further strengthening of ties between Pakistan and the United Kingdom, she said.