- FO spokesperson says Pakistan ready to extend any support Iran may require to investigate helicopter crash
- Welcomes announcement by Ireland, Spain and Norway to recognise Palestine state, calling it a milestone in decades-old quest for a Palestinian state
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has rejected the fresh order of the Indian Supreme Court upholding its earlier ruling that had endorsed the Indian government’s unilateral decision of revoking the special status of Jammu and Kashmir by abrogating Article 370 of the Constitution through legislation in 2019.
At her weekly news briefing here on Friday, Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said: “We reject the fresh order of the Indian Supreme Court just as we had rejected the earlier order of December 11, 2023. Two verdicts fail to recognize the internationally recognized disputed nature of Jammu and Kashmir…Indian Supreme Court judgments cannot distract the international community’s attention from the gross and systemic human rights violation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.”
She also mentioned the prime minister’s visit to Iran to offer condolence on the demise of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and others. During the visit, the prime minister met with the Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and Acting President Mohammad Mokhber to offer condolence on behalf of the government and the people of Pakistan.
The FO spokesperson said that Pakistan was ready to extend any support Iran may require to investigate the helicopter crash that led to the deaths of the Iranian president, foreign minister and other high-ranking officials.
“Pakistan for its part remains ready to extend any support that would be required by the Iranian authorities if such a need arises,” FO Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch replied when asked whether Pakistan offered any assistance to Iran to investigate the helicopter crash.
Pakistan observed a day of mourning over the tragic incident and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif travelled to Tehran to attend the funeral of President Raisi and others. Raisi was in Pakistan only last month where both countries agreed to deepen their cooperation.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei told PM Shehbaz that bilateral ties between the two countries would continue to grow under the new administration.
She said the Kashmiris had an inalienable right to self-determination as enshrined in the UN Security Council’s resolutions. “India has no right to make unilateral decisions on the status of disputed territory against the will of parties in the dispute – Kashmiris and Pakistan,” she added.
The FO spokesperson welcomed the announcement by Ireland, Spain and Norway to recognise the Palestine state, following a similar announcement by Bahamas, Tobago, Jamaica and Barbados, and called it a milestone in the decades-old quest of the Palestinian people for their right to self-determination.
She said that the Gaza genocide and dire humanitarian situation underlined the urgency of the establishment of an independent Palestine state with Quds Al-Sharif as the capital.
The spokesperson told the media that Palestine state was recognized by an overwhelming majority of UN member states which necessitated the UN Security Council to move positively in that direction.
Highlighting the diplomatic engagements during the previous week, she mentioned Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to the United Arab Emirates where he met President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, besides interacting with the investors and entrepreneurs.
In his meeting with the UAE president, the prime minister reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to ensure meaningful implementation of investment cooperation agreements in energy, port operations projects, wastewater treatment, food security, logistics, minerals, and banking & financial services.
The UAE president also committed that his country would invest $10 billion in multiple sectors in Pakistan.
She apprised the media of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s visit to Astana to attend the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers’ meeting and later to Bishkek along with the Kyrgyz foreign minister with a main focus on the welfare of Pakistani nationals affected by the mob violence.
She also highlighted the recent visit of Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and his meetings with PM Shehbaz, the Senate Chairman, military leadership and delegation-level talks with Foreign Minister Dar. Two sides also assessed preparations for the Pakistan-Turkiye High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council to be held here soon.
The spokesperson informed the media that Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov is scheduled to visit Pakistan from May 29-30 to meet the leadership and hold talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.
