This is an established fact that terror groups receive support from India: FO Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch
ISLAMABAD, Nov 14 (SABAH): Pakistan has expressed concerns over the Indian support to terror groups.
At her weekly news briefing in Islamabad on Thursday, Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said this is an established fact that the terror groups receive support from India. She recalled that Pakistan arrested an Indian Naval Officer a few years back who was the mastermind of support for espionage and terror activities in Balochistan.
The FO Spokesperson urged the Afghan authorities to take action against the terror groups and do not allow the use of their soil against Pakistan or any other neighboring country. She said Afghanistan should take Pakistan’s repeated requests seriously and not test the patience of Pakistani people.
Responding to a question, the spokesperson said Pakistan will continue to work with China for the safety and security of Chinese nationals, projects and institutions in the country.
She said Pakistan and China have a robust dialogue and cooperation on a range of issues including counter terrorism and security of Chinese nationals. She said this dialogue is based on mutual respect, mutually beneficial cooperation and respect for each other’s sovereignty. As Iron brothers and strategic partners, the two countries have the resolve and capability to foil any attempts aimed at harming this relationship. She said we will not allow any efforts to derail China-Pakistan strategic partnership.
When asked about relationship with the US, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said both the countries have a long history of good friendly relations. She said it is in our mutual interest to build on this relationship on the basis of mutual respect, mutual interest and on the basis on non-interference in each other’s domestic affairs.
FO spokesperson said that Prime Minister Mohammad Shehbaz Sharif attended the “World Leaders’ Climate Action Summit” of the 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change held from 11-22 November 2024in Baku, Azerbaijan.
The Prime Minister addressed the World Leaders Climate Action Summit and High-Level sideline events of the Summit including the “Climate Finance Roundtable” hosted by Pakistan; and the “Glaciers 2025: Action for Glaciers”hosted by Tajikistan.
At the “World Leaders’ Climate Action Summit”, the Prime Minister outlined the urgent need for immediate and bold action to address the crisis. He called for scaling up climate finance to help developing nations in combating climate change while maintaining economic stability.
On Climate Finance, the Prime Minister emphasized the urgent need to redefine the global climate finance framework; and called for a mechanism to track unfulfilled climate finance pledges. He also called for non-debt finance solutions; simplified access to funds; and more robust resilience financing for nations more vulnerable to climate change.
At the “Glaciers 2025” event, the Prime Minister highlighted the critical urgency of global action to address glacier melt and ensuring sustainable water resources. He also underscored the need for regional collaboration; data-sharing; and standardized monitoring of glaciers.
FO spokesperson said the Deputy Prime Minister represented Pakistan at the high-level event “Delivering Early Warning for All and Addressing Extreme Heat”. He highlighted the importance of early warning systems for climate-induced hazards, he urged developed nations to honour their climate finance commitments and provide accessible, grants-based financing to help developing countries achieve their climate goals.
On the sidelines of the Summit, the Prime Minister held meetings with the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev; President of Türkiye Recip Tayyip Erdogan; President of the UAE Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan; President of Nepal Ram Chandra Paudel; Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Sir Keir Starmer; Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala; Prime Minister of Denmark; Mette Frederiksen; Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang; and the Chief Advisor of the Interim Government of Bangladesh, Dr. Muhammad Yunus.
FO spokesperson said that earlier this week, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif participated in the extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit on the Situation in the Middle Eastheld on 11 November 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar who also attended the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers’ Preparatory Meeting for the Summit.
At the Summit and the Council of Foreign Ministers, Pakistan condemned the Gaza genocide, Israeli aggression against Palestine and Lebanon; and the recent strikes on Iran. Hecautioned that such escalations constitute a dangerous threat to international peace and security and could unleash a broader war.
The Deputy Prime Minister / Foreign Minister called for the necessity of continuing operations of UNRWA. He expressed support for Palestine’s admission as a full member of the United Nations. He also called for comprehensive review of Israel’s membership of the UN; holding Israel accountable for war crimes; and imposing an immediate arms embargo on Israel.
The Prime Minister called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire; imposing an immediate arms embargo on Israel; lifting of Israel’s siege of Gaza; humanitarian assistance for the people of Gaza; and accountability for Israel’s war crimes. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s firm commitment to Palestine’s right to self-determinationand our un-wavering support to establish, an independent, viable, and contiguous state of Palestine, with Al-Quds-Al-Sharif as its Capital.
FO spokesperson said we welcome the resolution adopted by the second Joint Arab-Islamic Summit on the Situation in the Middle East.
The leaders endorsed the collective all on the UNSC by a group of countries including Pakistan to impose arms embargo on Israel. They called on UNSC to take necessary decisions including sanctions in order to stop the escalating Israeli measures in the West Bank and undermining the two-state solution.
The leaders called for suspension of Israel’s participation in UNGA in view of its illegal actions and threat to international peace and security. They also called on UNSC to form an independent and credible international investigation committee to investigate Israeli crimes of genocide, enforced disappearances, torture and ethnic cleansing.
FO spokesperson said we urge the international community to heed to this call and to uphold international law, safeguard human rights and protect the people of Palestine.
She said that the fourth round of Pakistan-Denmark Bilateral Political Consultations was held this week in Islamabad. Additional Foreign Secretary (Europe), Ambassador Shafqat Ali Khan and the Denmark the State Secretary for Foreign Policy of Denmark, Ambassador Lisbet Zilmer-Johns co-chaired the talks.
The two sides held extensive discussions on a range of bilateral issues, and agreed to further strengthen political relations, trade and investment, and cooperation in climate action, renewable energy, infrastructure development and enhance people-to-people contacts.
The Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation on Afghanistan, Ambassador Zamir Kabulov is visiting Pakistan today. He will call on Foreign Secretary Ms. Amna Baloch and hold detailed consultations with Additional Foreign Secretary (Afghanistan and West Asia), Ambassador Ahmad Naseem Warraich. The two sides will review the situation in Afghanistan and discuss the role of neighbouring countries in promoting regional peace and stability.
FO spokesperson said Pakistan reiterates its serious concerns about the plight of Kashmiri political prisoners. A sizeable number of these prisoners remain incarcerated outside Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). Many detainees are enduring inhuman conditions in jails, including confinement in overcrowded cells, denial of necessary medical care and continued detention without due process. Their protracted confinement has caused enormous distress for them and their families. We urge the Indian authorities to drop fabricated charges against all political prisoners, activists and human rights defenders and release them immediately.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch 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 UN Security Council Resolutions.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch announced that at the invitation of Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, will participate in the 15th Sir Bani Yas Forum being held from 15-17 November 2024 in the United Arab Emirates.
At the forum, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister will engage in high-level dialogue with global leaders and experts, addressing critical issues of regional security, economic cooperation and sustainable development. He will underscore Pakistan’s strategic perspective on fostering diplomatic solutions to complex regional challenges and advancing collective prosperity.