Human rights violations in IIOJK continue unabated: FO Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch
ISLAMABAD, Feb 16 (SABAH): Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch has said that the human rights violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) continue unabated. She said that Pakistan will 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.
This was stated by Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch during a weekly press briefing on Thursday.
FO Spokesperson said “Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif is traveling to Türkiye today for a 2-day visit in a special gesture of solidarity and support with the people of Türkiye in the wake of the massive earthquake on 6 February 2023”.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that in Ankara, the Prime Minister will meet President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to personally convey heartfelt condolences on behalf of the entire Pakistani nation over the loss of precious lives and the widespread damage caused by the earthquake. He will also reaffirm Pakistan’s solidarity to stand by our Turkish brothers and sisters during these difficult times and to continue all possible support to the ongoing relief efforts. The Prime Minister will also visit earthquake affected areas in Southern Türkiye, and interact with Pakistani search and rescue teams deployed in the area as well as the survivors of the earthquake.
She said that following the deadly earthquake, Pakistan has mobilized relief assistance for both Türkiye and Syria. Our humanitarian assistance, until yesterday includes 12 flights to Türkiye; 21 NLC trucks dispatched by road to Türkiye; 2 flights to Syria and 12 trucks dispatched by road to Syria. An 85-member Urban Search and Rescue team is currently operating in Türkiye while a 10-member Search and Rescue Team and a 10-member medical team are operating in Syria to support the relief efforts. Additional assistance is being sent through train and sea.
She said that these efforts are only a part of overall support being provided by several private and charitable organizations and individuals who are contributing to relief efforts for the brotherly people of Türkiye and Syria. We are particularly grateful to the anonymous Pakistani who has contributed US$30 million for relief assistance in Türkiye. Pakistan will continue to work with Türkiye and Syria in the post-disaster rehabilitation and reconstruction phases.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is travelling today to Germany to attend the Munich Security Conference from 16-20 February. At the Conference, he will participate in multiple events including round table discussions. He will hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts and leaders participating in the Conference. Minister of State will also attend the Munich Security Conference.
FO Spokesperson said that Foreign Minister will then travel to Lithuania for an official visit at the invitation of the Lithuanian Foreign Minister. In Vilnius from 20-21 February, he will hold extensive talks with Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis and call on the Speaker of the Lithuanian Parliament. The two sides will sign an MoU on the establishment of Bilateral Political Consultations. In the last leg of his tour, Foreign Minister will visit Hungary from 21-22 February. In official talks with his Hungarian counterpart H.E. Peter Szijjarto, the two sides will deliberate upon the entire spectrum of bilateral relations and exchange views on regional and international issues. The Foreign Ministers will also sign two MoUs on bilateral cooperation – cooperation between diplomatic academies and another on sports and education between the two countries.
She said that Director General, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Mariano Grossi is in Pakistan for a two-day visit. He has held meetings with the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan. During these meetings, cooperation between IAEA and Pakistan in the areas of health, agriculture, industry, nuclear medicine and power generation were discussed. Pakistan expressed full support for various projects and programmes of the Agency and conveyed our desire to expand cooperation and support for the Agency’s work.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that DG IAEA Rafael Mariano Grossihas visited Pakistan Nuclear Medicine Oncology and Radiotherapy Institution (NORI) and Chashma Nuclear Power Plant where he inaugurated its spent fuel dry storage facility, highlighting the importance of managing spent fuel safely and securely. He also visited Pakistan Centre of Excellence in Nuclear Security.
She said that Pakistan and IAEA will enhance cooperation in terms of research on new high-yield and drought resistant varieties of crops. Pakistan will support neighboring countries as a regional Center in the Rays of Hope programme of IAEA.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that on Wednesday Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister, Erling Rimestad, who is currently on a visit to Pakistan met with Foreign Secretary Dr. Asad Majeed Khan, as part of regular bilateral interactions. During the meeting, the two sides discussed diverse areas of bilateral cooperation including investment, maritime, climate and higher education. It was agreed to strengthen high level exchanges and further expand mutually beneficial collaboration.
She said that the Second round of Pakistan-US Mid-Level Defence Dialogue is currently underway in Washington DC. Pakistan’s delegation is led by the Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Muhammad Saeed andwhile the US side is led by the US Acting Assistant Secretary of Defence for Indo Pacific Security Affairs (IPSA), Dr. Ely Ratneu. A range of issues including defence and security cooperation, broader regional and global context and related issues are on the agenda of the talks.
FO spokesperson said that the two sides reviewed the progress in bilateral defence and security cooperation since the first round of the Dialogue, which was held in Pakistan in January 2021. In depth discussions were held on further strengthening defence and security cooperation. The two sides reaffirmed the significance of defence and security cooperation as an important pillar of the bilateral relations and a significant factor in ensuring regional peace and stability.
She said that counselor of the U.S. Department of State Derek Chollet is visiting Pakistan with an interagency delegation from 16-18 February. In Islamabad, Counselor Chollet will meet with the Foreign Secretary and other senior officials. The discussions will focus on the bilateral engagement process which has been institutionalized in trade and investment, climate change, clean energy, health, security, education, and other shared priorities. Long-term cooperation with the U.S. on flood rehabilitation and recovery will also be discussed.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that media may have noted that on 8 February 2023, the Chinese side handed over certain seeds of Pakistani origin to the Ministry of Science and Technology after six months aboard China’s Tiangong manned space station. The project featured seven varieties of Pakistani seeds – mainly medicinal plants and herbs. The plants were selected based on pharmacological properties and uses in traditional Greek (Yunani) and Chinese medicines by the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi. They were taken into space by the China Manned Space Agency’s (CMSA) Shenzhou 14 manned space mission last yearand returned in December 2022 on the same Mission’s return flight.
She said that the trips to space would help scientists develop new varieties that can thrive amidst changing climatic and environmental conditions, develop high yield and diseases resistant varieties which are essential for food security of Pakistan. This is the latest achievement in longstanding and mutually beneficial space cooperation between Pakistan and China.
She said that Pakistan has strongly condemned Israel’s recent decision to legalize nine settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. We believe this action is a clear and flagrant violation of international law and relevant United Nations resolutions and an encroachment upon the rights of the people of Palestine. We call upon the international community to make greater efforts to stop Israel from creating conditions which hinder the achievement of the two-state solution.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that on 18th of February, we will mark the 16th anniversary of the tragic Samjhauta Express terror attack of 2007 that resulted in the death of over 40 Pakistani nationals on Indian soil. The families of these victims are still awaiting justice and the culprits to be held to account despite irrefutable evidence, including personal confessions of a number of Hindutva extremists. It is a travesty of justice that the mastermind behind the blast, Swami Aseemanand, has been exonerated of these charges. Pakistan reiterates its demand for justice in this case and calls on India to fulfill its legal obligations, find the perpetrators and punish them for this reprehensible act.
She said that the human rights violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) continue unabated. According to the reports, a young Kashmiri, Shamsuddin son of Jamaluddin, died at an interrogation center in Udhampur after he was subjected to torture that he had to endure since his arrest from his house about a month ago.
She said that Shamsuddin is neither the first nor the only incident of Kashmiri youth who have gone missing and are believed to have been killed in custody or fake encounters. We have been raising our concerns about the custodial deaths in IIOJK. Those responsible for such inhumane acts and human rights violations must be held to account.