Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch has stated that human rights violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir continue unabated, Pakistan continues to raise concerns about the situation and calls for just and peaceful settlement of the dispute in accordance with the UN Security Council Resolutions. Responding to questions at her weekly news briefing in Islamabad on Thursday, Foreign Office Spokesperson said these raids are reprisals of BBC's documentary on Gujrat massacre of 2002 and India's illegal and unilateral steps in Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir on August 5th, 2019. The Spokesperson said Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is travelling to Germany today to attend the Munich Security Conference.

He will then travel to Lithuania where he will sign MoU on the establishment of bilateral political consultations. In the last leg of his tour, the Foreign Minister will visit Hungary from 21st to 22nd of this month and will deliberate upon the entire spectrum of bilateral relations and exchange views on regional and international issues.He will also sign two MoUs on bilateral cooperation between diplomatic academies and another on sports and education between the two countries. The Spokesperson said second round of Pakistan-US mid-level Defence Dialogue is underway in Washington to discuss a range of issues including defence and security cooperation in the broader regional and global context.

The Pakistani delegation in the dialogue is led by Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Muhammad Saeed while the US side is led by US Acting Assistant Secretary of Defence for Indo Pacific Security Affairs Dr. Ely Ratneu. Mumtaz Zahra Baloch announced that Counselor of the US Department of State Derek Chollet is travelling to Pakistan from today on a three-day visit with an interagency delegation. Regarding PM visit to Turkiye, she stated that  visit will focus on bilateral engagement process which has been institutionalized in trade and investment, climate change, clean energy, health, security, education, and other shared priorities. 

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. Regarding relief assistance, she said 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. Responding a question, she stated 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. 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. 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, she added. Regarding Israel’s action, she viewed 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.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-INP