FO expresses concern over Gaza, condemns Israel's brutality

Gaza death toll crosses 20,000

ISLAMABAD:

The Foreign Office (FO) on Thursday expressed profound concern over the atrocities in the besieged Palestine enclave of Gaza and strongly condemned Israel’s brutality against innocent Palestinians. .

The FO has continued to criticise Israel's actions which have unfolded a “tragedy of epic proportions” in Gaza and has urged the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to fulfil its responsibility to uphold peace as well as call for an urgent and unconditional ceasefire, lifting of siege and commencement of rapid, unhindered humanitarian assistance.

The Gaza health ministry today revealed that the death toll in Palestine had reached 20,000.

Regarding the Indian Supreme Court’s (SC) decision to uphold the suspension of Article 370 in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), FO spokesperson Mumtaz Zehra Baloch said last week interim Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani had written letters to the heads of international organisations, informing them about India’s illegal and unilateral actions in the occupied valley.

“Pakistan will continue to support Kashmiri brothers and sisters diplomatically, politically and morally until they achieve their right to self-determination,” said Baloch.

🔴LIVE: Spokesperson's Weekly Press Briefing 21-12-23 at Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Islamabad https://t.co/XMwzyF2ssL

— Spokesperson 🇵🇰 MoFA (@ForeignOfficePk) December 21, 2023

On the other hand, the spokesperson said that the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi had issued visas to 166 Hindu pilgrims. “Pakistan warmly welcomes Hindu and Sikh pilgrims,” she said.

Read Pakistan condemns terrorist attack at Iranian police headquarters

The spokesperson further said caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar had paid a one-day visit to Kuwait this week to express his condolence on the demise of the former emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Mishal al-Ahmad al-Sabah, on behalf of the government.

Following the death of the emir, the interim premier had also declared Monday, December 18 as a day of mourning in Pakistan as an expression of fraternal solidarity with the royal family, the government, and the people of Kuwait.

The Indian SC in a unanimous verdict on December 11 upheld the Modi government’s 2019 decision to abrogate Article 370, revoking special status to occupied Kashmir, reported The Times of India.

The court had directed the election commission to hold elections in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) region by September 30, 2024.

In 2019, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) revoked the special status of occupied Kashmir by abolishing Article 370 of the constitution. Not only did the law reserve state government jobs for residents, as well as college places, in an effort to keep the state from being overrun by people from the rest of India.

This article further restricted the Indian parliament's authority to enact laws in the region, except in defense, foreign affairs, and communications.