Opening Remarks for the Weekly Press Briefing by Spokesperson Thursday, 12 October 2023
Thanks for joining us for the Weekly Briefing.
Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani participated in the 27th Meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) on 9-10 October 2023. The meeting, which was chaired by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Jeyhun Bayramov, focused on the theme of “Green Transition and Interconnectivity”.
In his statement, the Foreign Minister reiterated Pakistan’s steadfast support for ECO’s mission of fostering economic growth and regional prosperity. He emphasized the vital role of integrated regional cooperation among member states in areas such as trade, investment, tourism, and infrastructure development. Foreign Minister also highlighted the untapped economic potential of the region and called for increased cooperation in alignment with ECO Vision 2025. He highlighted the urgency of resolving the long-standing Jammu and Kashmir dispute for peace and economic prosperity of the entire region.
On the sidelines, Foreign Minister Jilani held bilateral meetings with Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan, Türkiye and Uzbekistan. He also met with the Secretary-General of ECO, Khusrav Noziri. The focus of these meetings was to further expand trade and connectivity in the ECO region.
Assistant Secretary General (Political) and the Special Envoy for Jammu and Kashmir of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Yousef Aldobeay, is on an official visit to Pakistan. Yesterday he called on Foreign Secretary Muhammad Syrus Sajjad Qazi and held detailed discussions with Additional Foreign Secretary (United Nations) Ambassador Syed Haider Shah. He also met with the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs. Today he will call on the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister of Pakistan. He will also be undertaking a visit to Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
This visit is in line with the March 2022 Action Plan adopted by the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir which accorded a mandate to the Special Envoy on Jammu and Kashmir to “organize annual visits to the region to obtain first-hand information about the situation on ground, and report upon his observations to the Council of Foreign Ministers”.
Meanwhile, in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the curbs on the genuine voices of the Kashmiri people remain persistent. On 5th of October 2023, the Indian occupation authorities banned the Jammu & Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (JKDFP) for a period of five years. The JKDFP is the fourth Kashmiri party banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) after the Jammu & Kashmir Liberation Front, ‘Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir’, and ‘Dukhtaraan-e-Millat.’ The party is led by Mr. Shabir Shah, who remains imprisoned since 2017. Mr. Shah has spent more than half of his 70-year-life under detention.
India should immediately reverse restrictive measures against political parties in IIOJK and release all political prisoners; so that the Kashmiri people can exercise their inalienable right to self-determination in accordance with the relevant UNSC resolutions.
Pakistan strongly condemns the indiscriminate and disproportionate use of force by Israeli authorities against civilian population in Gaza and calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities.
We are deeply concerned about the fast-deteriorating and dire humanitarian situation in Gaza due to the inhumane blockade and collective punishment by Israeli forces. The decision to cut off electricity, fuel and water supplies is unjust and should be reversed, as it would severely impact the lives of the Palestinians residing in the enclave.
Israel must also bring an immediate end to its campaign of indiscriminate bombing against the people of Gaza. It should fulfill its obligations as an occupying power under international law, lift the blockade and allow unhindered access to humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people.
The current cycle of aggression and violence is a sad reminder and a direct consequence of over seven decades of illegal foreign occupation, aggression, and disrespect for international law, including UNSC resolutions that recognize the inalienable right to self-determination of the Palestinian people. Pakistan has been constantly warning against serious consequences of Israel’s escalatory and provocative actions in recent months.
The unprecedented gravity of the situation demands urgent intervention by the international community. We urge the United Nations to play a proactive role in facilitating a ceasefire to alleviate the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza. The international community must work in concert for a just, comprehensive and lasting two-state solution with a viable, sovereign and contiguous State of Palestine on the basis of pre-1967 borders, with Al Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. Peace in the Middle East will remain elusive in the absence of such a solution.
I have an announcement to make.
At the invitation of Chinese President , Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar will undertake a visit to China to participate in the ‘Third Belt and Road Forum (BRF) for International Cooperation’, being held in Beijing from 17-18 October 2023.
The Prime Minister will attend the Opening Ceremony of the BRF and address the High-Level Forum entitled ‘Connectivity in an Open Global Economy’ to be held on 18 October 2023. He will hold bilateral meetings with Chinese President and senior Chinese leaders and with a number of leaders attending the Forum.
While in China, the Prime Minister will also meet with leading Chinese entrepreneurs to expand bilateral trade and investment. He will also visit Urumqi, Xinjiang Autonomous Region of China to meet with local leaders and businesspersons, aiming to enhance trade, investment and people-to-people relations.
The visit of the Prime Minister comes in the backdrop of the ongoing celebrations marking the ten years of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the flagship project of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. In his engagements, the Prime Minister will highlight the key achievements and the future priorities of CPEC, and reaffirm Pakistan’s strong commitment to jointly promote its high-quality development.
I thank you!
Editor: Raja Kamran