ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Foreign Office Spokesperson Aisha Farooqui on Thursday said that United Nations Security Council once again expressed concern over curfew and human rights violations in occupied Kashmir.
Addressing weekly news briefing in Islamabad on Thursday, she said that Pakistan will continue to play its role for reduction of tension and peace and stability in the region, adding that Pakistan is an important country in the region and it has historic relations with Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United States.
She said the foreign minister during his engagements in Tehran and Saudi Arabia put forward Pakistan s point of view that war is in nobody s interest and that we are partner for peace.
The spokesperson said the second briefing to the UN Security Council on the situation in occupied Jammu and Kashmir in five months constitutes success of Pakistan to highlight the plight of oppressed Kashmiri people. She said this reaffirms that Kashmir is an internationally recognized dispute which is on the agenda of the Security Council for seven decades.
Responding to a question about Pakistani prisoners languishing in foreign jails, Farooqui said Pakistan is cognizant of its responsibility towards them and its missions abroad are extending fully facilitation and assistance to the prisoners. She pointed out that about 10,000 Pakistan nationals are imprisoned in foreign jails and as a result of our efforts, about 4637 prisoners have been released over the last one year.
She said our mission in Saudi Arabia is discussing with Saudi authorities the release of its prisoners. So far 579 prisoners have been released by Saudi authorities on the clemency announced by the Saudi Crown Prince. In addition, 1500 Pakistanis have been released by Saudi Arabia under various other clemencies and completion of their sentences.
Responding to a question, Aisha Farooqui said the US envoy Alice Wells is expected to visit Pakistan during which talks will be held on the entire spectrum of bilateral relations and regional situation.
She said the visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan to Davos is also on the cards.
When asked about US-Taliban talks, Aisha Farooqui said Pakistan has welcomed the resumption of their talks. She hoped the talks will be concluded at the earliest leading to infra Afghan negotiations.
https://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/528253-UNSC-again-expresses-concern-over-curfew-human-rights-violations-in-IOK
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan in an interview on Thursday said that Kashmiris should be free to decide their fate, and not forced into the decision, ARY News reported.
Prime Minister Imran Khan sat down with a correspondent from German media and talked on an array of topics ranging from Kashmir, Afghanistan, India, and the country he was heading.
Read More: PM Imran welcomes UNSC meet on ‘internationally recognised Kashmir dispute’
Discussing the illegal unilateral annexation of Kashmir at the hands of India, the prime minister said: “Let the people of Kashmir decide what they want. Pakistan is ready for a referendum or a plebiscite.”
The interviewer asks the prime minister about claims of human rights violations in Azad Kashmir which is currently under Pakistan’s administration and how does he compare the two disputed territories and situation of their respective residents.
Prime Minister Imran Khan replied: “Well, it’s very easy to find out. We invite anyone from anywhere in the world to visit the Pakistan side of Kashmir and then go to the Indian side. Let them decide.”
Read More: PM, COAS discuss matters related to national security, Kashmir
“Azad Kashmir holds free and fair elections and it elects its own government. Like any other administration, they have their problems. But as I said, let us invite observers from all over the world. I assure you that they can go to the Pakistan side of Kashmir but won’t be allowed on the Indian side.”
Imran Khan emphasised that he had extended an olive branch to the Indian government on multiple occasions but the radical ideology of its current ruling class has been and can become a further detriment to regional peace and security.
“I was the first leader to warn the world about what is happening in India. India has been taken over by an extremist ideology known as “Hindutva.” It is the ideology of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
“The RSS, a political organization founded in 1925, was inspired by the German Nazis, and its founding fathers believed in racial supremacy. Just as the Nazi ideology was built on hatred for minorities, the RSS ideology is also based on hatred for Muslims and other minorities, including Christians,” said PM Imran Khan.
Read More: Discussions with UN leaders reaffirm Kashmir’s disputed status: FM
“The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) is blatantly against minorities, and particularly against the 200 million Muslims in India. The silence of the world on all of this is mainly because of commercial interests.”
“It is a tragedy for India — and for its neighbours — that the country has been taken over by the RSS, an organization which also assassinated the great Mahatma Gandhi. A nuclear-armed country is being run by extremists, and Kashmir has been under siege for over five months.”
Answering a question about the US-Afghanistan peace talks and Pakistan’s role in brokering peace between the two countries, the prime minister said: ” I think they are heading towards a ceasefire. We are hoping that the US-Taliban talks succeed, as we have a new government in power in Afghanistan with President Ashraf Ghani being re-elected.”
Read More: Indian annexation of Kashmir, detriment to UN resolutions: Chinese Ambassador
” Pakistan is doing its best to bring peace to Afghanistan. It is a country that has suffered so much in the past 40 years. We pray that the Taliban, the Americans and the Afghan government achieve peace.”
“We live in a difficult neighborhood and we have to balance our actions. For instance, Saudi Arabia is one of Pakistan’s greatest friends and has always been there for us. Then we have Iran, with which we have always maintained a good relationship. Therefore, a military conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran would be disastrous for Pakistan. We are trying our best to make sure that ties between these two countries do not deteriorate. It is a region that cannot afford another conflict,” said the premier.
Read More: Syed Ali Gilani urges Int’l community to take note of violations, bloodshed in IOK
https://arynews.tv/en/imran-khan-interview-germany/
ISLAMABAD: Condemning the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led Indian government’s belligerent rhetoric and grave human rights abuses in Occupied Kashmir, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday said that the New Delhi regime’s actions have posed threat to regional peace and security, ARY News reported.
Presiding over a high-level meeting on held Kashmir, PM Imran reiterated that Pakistan will continue its political, diplomatic and moral support to the Kashmiris for their just struggle for right to self-determination.
The meeting decided to observe February 5 as Kashmir Day in a befitting manner. The participants of the meeting welcomed the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) discussing the situation in India-occupied Jammu and Kashmir and added that Pakistan will not compromise on regional peace and security.
The meeting also condemned India’s inhuman lockdown of eight million Kashmiris for over 165 days.
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Inter-Services Intelligence Director General Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed, Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood and other high officials were present in the meeting.
Read More: PM Imran welcomes UNSC meet on ‘internationally recognised Kashmir dispute’
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Imran Khan in series of tweets had welcomed the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) discussing the situation in India-occupied Jammu and Kashmir during a closed-door meeting in New York.
“Pakistan welcomes UN Security Council discussing the situation in Jammu & Kashmir again. An internationally recognized dispute, J&K remains on the Security Council’s agenda & its consideration by the Council reflects a recognition of the seriousness of the prevailing situation,” he had said.
Prime Minister Khan had said the Kashmir dispute must be resolved in accordance with relevant UNSC resolutions and the will of the Kashmiri people.
https://arynews.tv/en/indian-actions-risk-regional-peace/
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan in series of tweets on Thursday welcomed the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) discussing the situation in India-occupied Jammu and Kashmir during a closed-door meeting in New York.
“Pakistan welcomes UN Security Council discussing the situation in Jammu & Kashmir again. An internationally recognized dispute, J&K remains on the Security Council’s agenda & its consideration by the Council reflects a recognition of the seriousness of the prevailing situation,” he said.
Prime Minister Khan said the Kashmir dispute must be resolved in accordance with relevant UNSC resolutions and the will of the Kashmiri people.
“We will continue to provide moral, political and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri people until they secure their inalienable right to self-determination,” he reiterated.
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) raised concern over the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan.
Read More: UNSC raises concern over increasing tensions between India, Pakistan
The UNSC met behind-closed-doors in New York discussed the grave situation in Indian occupied Kashmir for the second time in five months. After the meeting, China’s UN Ambassador Zhang Jun told reporters at UN Headquarters that we had a meeting on Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
He said the 15-member Council heard a briefing from the UN Secretariat on the situation.
Mr. Zhang said the issue of Kashmir between India and Pakistan is always on the agenda of the Security Council.
Read More: Sindh govt proposes three names for new IG
Replying to a question, the Chinese Ambassador to the UN said our position on Kashmir issue is very clear.
https://arynews.tv/en/pm-imran-khan-unsc-discussion-kashmir-issue/
NEW YORK: Foreign Minister (FM) Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Thursday called on United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York, to discuss Indian occupied Kashmir (IoK) issue.
Highlighting Pakistan’s efforts for peace and stability in the region, FM Qureshi said Islamabad is sincere for the bilateral talks on Kashmir however India is backtracking.
Talking to media after meeting the UN chief, Shah Mehmood Qureshi said people of occupied Kashmir are facing worst curfew as the valley has been turned out as a jail for the Kashmiris after August 5.
“Facts are being hide by the Indian government through worst communication blackout.”
FM Qureshi said, he brought under discussion different other issues, including Ehsaas Programme, in a meeting with UN General Assembly (UNGA) President Tijjani Muhammad-Bande.
Read more: Pakistan won’t sit silent on continuous Indian provocations in Kashmir: CM Buzdar
The minister said he had thanked the security council’s president for highlighting the Kashmir issue in the council’s meeting as lockdown slapped on the Himalayan territory has passed nearly five months since.
“It’s the second time in five months that the security council discussed the Kashmir issue,” he said.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi said, he apprised the UN secretary-general of the Pakistan efforts in de-escalating the tension simmering in the Middle East. I briefed him about the progress of my recent visits to KSA and Iran, he continued.
Pakistan’s Permanent Ambassador to the UN, Munir Akram was also in attendance in the meeting.
https://arynews.tv/en/shah-mehmood-qureshi-antonio-guterres-iok/
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