Pakistan defends Bilawal’s Goa visit

FO says Islamabad will continue raising voice against HR abuses in IIOJK

ISLAMABAD:

The Foreign Office on Thursday defended the visit of Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to Goa where he attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Council of Foreign Ministers’ meeting.

The foreign minister became the first Pakistani foreign minister to visit India in almost 12 years, flying into Goa to attend a SCO meet last week.

“We believe that Pakistan made the right decision to participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Council of Foreign Ministers’ meeting,” FO spokesperson Mumtaz Zehra Baloch said during her weekly press briefing.
To a question, the spokesperson said, “This shows our commitment to the SCO.

You may have seen the statement that foreign minister made. He highlighted Pakistan’s viewpoint on all aspects of our concern about security, economic development, and connectivity in this region. He also underlined that terrorism should not be weaponised as a tool of foreign policy. You may have also seen the interactions that foreign minister had with the Indian media and the Pakistani media.”

She remarked, “Our position was consistent with our long-standing position on the various issues, including weaponisation of terrorism and the situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. It should not have come as a surprise to anyone. Any statements that have been made in that respect criticising our foreign minister’s statements are just unfortunate and baseless.”

To another question, she said, “Pakistan unequivocally condemns all terrorist acts, including acts against foreign nationals in Pakistan. The Chinese nationals are our guests. Chinese companies in Pakistan are contributing to Pakistan’s development. The government of Pakistan will continue to provide them with all the best possible facilitation and best possible security so that they are able to function in Pakistan without any fear or hindrance.”

The spokesperson said, “We will also 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, “The oppression in IIOJK continues unabated. Since our last news briefing, the occupation forces killed at least six Kashmiri youth in Rajouri, Kupwara, and Baramulla districts. They continued their cordon and search operations in Rajouri and Poonch districts, harassing the local population. Six shops of a pro-freedom activist, Fayaz Ahmed Magray, were attacked by India’s National Investigation Agency in Pulwama district. Two Kashmiri youth, Shahid Ahmad Lone and Waseem Ahmad Ganai, were arrested in Shopian district. Reportedly, 193 more Kashmiris have been identified, whose properties will be demolished as a punishment for their support to the freedom movement. These human rights violations must end.”