Sohail Mahmood holds separate meetings with dignitaries of three different countries
ISLAMABAD, March 24 (SABAH): Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood has held separate meetings with dignitaries of three different countries including Assistant Foreign Minister of Qatar, Deputy Foreign Minister of Yeman and UN Assistant Secretary General here on Thursday.
According to Foreign office statement Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood met Qatar’s Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Regional Affairs, Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi, on the sidelines of the 48th session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) in Islamabad.
The Foreign Secretary and Assistant Foreign Minister reviewed the multi-faceted Pakistan-Qatar relations, in addition to exchanging views on regional and international issues.
The Foreign Secretary, while highlighting the excellent bilateral relationship, reiterated Pakistan’s resolve to enhance cooperation in all areas of mutual interest. He also lauded Qatar’s constructive contribution towards regional peace and stability, particularly in the context of the Afghan peace process. The Foreign Secretary also noted the convergence of views between the two sides on the imperative of addressing the urgent humanitarian and economic needs of the Afghan people. He stressed that after 40 years of conflict and instability, there was a unique opportunity to consolidate peace in Afghanistan and this opportunity must be seized.
The Assistant Foreign Minister appreciated Pakistan’s leadership in facilitating concrete outcomes from the Extraordinary session of the OIC-CFM held in Islamabad in December 2021 for addressing the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. He also congratulated Pakistan on the successful hosting of the 48th OIC-CFM session.
Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood apprised of the grave human rights situation in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). He also emphasized that the recent incident of firing of a missile into Pakistan from India raised multiple disturbing questions which required a joint probe for establishing the facts. While Pakistan was acting with restraint and responsibility, India’s irresponsible conduct was posing a threat to regional peace andsecurity. The Foreign Secretary stressed that the international community must hold India accountable for its actions.
Meanwhile Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood received MansourAli Saeed Bajash, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Republic of Yemen, at the Foreign Office. They discussed bilateral relations and exchanged views onissues of common interest.
The Foreign Secretary reiterated that Pakistan attached importance to its longstanding ties with Yemen that were based on mutual trust and cooperation. He stressed the need for continued cooperation between the two countries at multilateral forums, including the UN and the OIC.
The Foreign Secretary conveyed concern at the security situation in Yemen and reiterated Pakistan’s condemnation of terrorist attacks by the Houthi militias.He reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Yemen in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council and OIC resolutions.
Deputy Foreign Minister Bajash conveyed his government’s appreciation for Pakistan’s support. He expressed confidence that Pakistan-Yemen relations would continue to grow. Deputy Foreign Minister Bajash also congratulated Pakistan on successfully hosting the 48th Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in Islamabad, coinciding with 75th anniversary celebrations of Pakistan’s Independence.
Meanwhile Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood received Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific in the Department of Political and Peace building Affairs and Peace Operations, Ambassador Khaled Khairi.
The Foreign Secretary briefed the Assistant Secretary-General on the recent incident of firing of a missile by India into Pakistan’s territory. He stressed that it was a serious violation of Pakistan’s airspace and reflective of India’s disregard for aviation safety as well as regional peace and stability. The Foreign Secretary emphasized that while Pakistan continued to act with restraint and responsibility, this incident was consistent with India’s irresponsible conduct and needed to be addressed by the international community. He recalled that the Foreign Minister of Pakistan had addressed a letter to the President of UN Security Council and the UN Secretary General, inter alia, calling for a joint probe into the incident to establish the facts.
The Foreign Secretary highlighted the grave violations of human rights and illegal demographic changes in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). He stressed the importance of a just settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, in accordance with relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council and the wishes of the Kashmiri people.
The Foreign Secretary and Assistant Secretary General exchanged views on matters concerning Afghanistan. They agreed on the urgent need for provision of adequate humanitarian and emergency assistance to the Afghan people; the revival of the Afghan economy and financial system; and the long-term reconstruction of Afghanistan with the active involvement of the United Nations. The Foreign Secretary appreciated the UN’s important contributions in this regard.
On the situation in Ukraine, the Foreign Secretary shared Pakistan’s perspective on the ongoing conflict, its adverse economic impact on developing countries, and Pakistan’s consistent calls for cessation of hostilities and a solution through dialogue and diplomacy.
Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood and ASG Khairi discussed cooperation between Pakistan and the UN, especially in the area of peacekeeping. The ASG lauded Pakistan’s contributions to UN peacekeeping over the years as one of the largest troop contributors.
Assistant Secretary-General Khairi is in Pakistan as the representative of the UN Secretary-General at the 48thsession of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers held in Islamabad on 22-23 March 2022, coinciding with 75thanniversary celebrations of Pakistan’s Independence.