Pak will continue to extend political, diplomatic & moral support to our Kashmiri brothers sisters: FO Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch

Islamabad: Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch has 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. She said that after destroying the health infrastructure in Gaza, Israeli occupation forces are now targeting hospitals in Lebanon. At her weekly news briefing in Islamabad on Thursday, Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran Seyed Abbas Araghchi visited Pakistan from 4 to 5 November 2024. During his two-day visit, he held meetings with the Prime Minister of Pakistan and Deputy Prime Minister / Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar. The two sides agreed to strengthen regular high-level exchanges; advance cooperation and dialogue on trade, energy and security; and enhance border management and people-to-people contacts. The Prime Min ister of Pakistan condemned Israel's October 26 attack on Iran and reaffirmed Pakistan's support for Iran's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The two sides also discussed the situation in the Middle East and the ongoing genocide in Gaza. They reaffirmed support for the right to self-determination of the Palestine people and for an immediate ceasefire, unhindered humanitarian assistance, and the creation of a Palestinian state with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that we welcome the latest report of the UN Special Rapporteur on Palestine, Francesca Albanese, calling out Israel for pushing through a systematic agenda of forced displacement, annihilation and genocide in Gaza and the West Bank. The report highlights how Israel has been committing genocide against the Palestinian people through acts of territorial expansions and ethnic cleansing. Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that Pakistan endorses Ms. Albanese's stance that Israel is obstructing international investigation efforts, i ncluding denying the entry of fact-finding teams from the United Nations. We support her call on the international community in acting decisively in bringing an end to Israel's unbridled atrocities against the Palestinians and to ensure unhindered humanitarian assistance to Gaza and full financing and protection of UNRWA. She said that Pakistan is also concerned about Israeli action against the relief workers and agencies including UNRWA and its continuous war on hospitals and vaccination centers. After destroying the health infrastructure in Gaza, Israeli occupation forces are now targeting hospitals in Lebanon. So far, 34 hospitals have been damaged; 111 emergency medical technicians (EMTs) have been killed; and 107 ambulances have been targeted in Lebanon. Such attacks on the humanitarian structures, agencies and actors in Palestine and Lebanon prevents people from seeking urgent medical care while creating long-term health risks for millions including children. Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that Pakistan, t herefore, calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Palestine and Lebanon; protection of civilians; and civilian infrastructure and unhindered humanitarian access and healthcare to those in urgent need. Responding to volley of questions about Pak-US relations, the FO Spokesperson said the President and the Prime Minister have congratulated President-elect Donald Trump on his election as the 47th President of the United States. She said Pakistan's relations with the United States are decades old and we look forward to further strengthen and broaden Pakistan-US relationship in all fields. The Spokesperson said Pakistan and the United States are old friends and partners and we will continue to promote our relations on the basis of mutual respect, mutual confidence and non-interference in each others' domestic affairs. Answering another question about passage of a resolution by the Indian illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, calling for the restoration of the special status, the Spokespers on said Pakistan's position on Indian occupation is well known. We have repeatedly underlined that it is the people of Jammu and Kashmir, who will determine the future of Jammu and Kashmir. The Spokesperson said Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally recognized disputed territory and any step that is in contravention to the UN Charter, relevant UN Security Council resolutions and international law are unacceptable to the people of Kashmir and Pakistan. She said we believe that any measure taken should be in conformity with international law and the UN Security Council resolutions. Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said India must realize that it cannot suppress the genuine aspirations of Kashmiri people through coercive tactics. It also must respect the right of freedom of the Kashmiri people and their inalienable right to self-determination as enshrined in the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that we are also concerned about the reports of deteriorating health of Kashmiri leader, Moh ammad Yasin Malik as he observes a hunger strike in protest for the poor conditions and insufficient medical care in New Delhi's Tihar Jail. After being framed in fictitious cases, Yasin Malik remains incarcerated for the last several years and is facing a death sentence. Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that we urge the Indian authorities to provide quality medical care to Yasin Malik and immediately release him. She said that Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif will visit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to participate in the 2nd Joint Arab Islamic Summit, being held in Riyadh on Monday. She said the Summit is being convened at the initiative of government of Saudi Arabia to discuss the situation in the Middle East. The Summit will be a follow up to the Joint Arab Islamic Extraordinary Summit held on 11th of November last year in Riyadh to discuss the situation in Gaza and other occupied territories. The Heads of State and governments and senior officials from Arab League and the OIC member countries are exp ected to participate in the Summit. At the Summit, the Prime Minister will reiterate Pakistan's full support to the Palestinian cause. He will call for an immediate end to the genocide in Gaza, urging an urgent and unconditional ceasefire and immediate cessation of the ongoing Israeli adventurism in the region that is endangering security of the countries in the Middle East. Pakistan will also call for providing international protection for the Palestinian people and for establishment of an independent state of Palestine on the border of 4th of June 1967 with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. On the sidelines of the Summit, the Prime Minister is expected to hold bilateral meetings with leaders from other Arab League and OIC member states. The Prime Minister of Pakistan will visit Baku, Azerbaijan to participate in the 'World Leaders' Climate Action Summit' taking place on 12-13 November 2024 as part of the 29th UN Climate Change Conference. The Prime Minister will be accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister/ Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar and other cabinet members and senior officials. At the Summit, the Prime Minister will make a robust call for climate solidarity and climate justice, based on the established principles of Equity and Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities. On the sidelines of the Summit, the Prime Minister is also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with participating world leaders. COP29 is taking place at a time when millions around the world including in Pakistan, are facing severe adverse impacts of climate change. As an important stakeholder, Pakistan will continue to make positive contributions to the global climate debate, negotiations and collective action.