Opening Remarks for the Weekly Press Briefing by the Spokesperson 14 September 2023
The Foreign Minister is currently in London, the United Kingdom for the 10th Commonwealth Youth Ministers Meeting. Pakistan is chairing this forum after three decades. Ministers and delegates from 56 Commonwealth nations are participating in this Meeting.
The theme of the Meeting is “Aiming Higher, Delivering More for young people in the Commonwealth”. Ministers are holding discussions on delivering More for Young People through the Power of Tech; meaningful youth engagement; Inclusive and Accessible Education; Sustainable Future; and Exploring Opportunities in Youth Entrepreneurship & Employment. They have also discussed best practices and policy coherence through engagement, education, employment and environment for the Commonwealth Youth.
In his various interventions, the Foreign Minister has presented steps taken by Pakistan in youth development through the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme (PYMP), which prioritizes empowering marginalized youth, including girls, minorities, and those with disabilities. The Foreign Minister has also highlighted Pakistan’s programmes for training and capacity building of the youth and their enhanced involvement in high-tech industries, information and communication technology, and environmental conservation.
Yesterday, the Foreign Minister chaired a Climate Change roundtable as part of the CYMM, where he stressed the urgent need for collective action, underscoring the crucial role of Commonwealth youth in advocating for climate solutions. He highlighted Pakistan’s experiences, emphasizing the need for international support in building climate resilience and achieving sustainable development goals.
On the sidelines, the Foreign Minister has held productive conversations with Ministers and delegations including the Secretary General of the Commonwealth Patricia Scotland, the UK’s Minister for Commonwealth Lord Tariq Ahmad, Sri Lanka’s Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Roshan Ranasinghe, Rwanda’s Youth Minister Dr Abdallah Utumatwishima, Samoa’s Minister for Women, Community and Social Development Leota Laki Lamositele Sio and Jamaica’s Education and Youth Minister Marsha Smith.
Pakistan’s Special Representative on Afghanistan, Ambassador Asif Durrani paid a two-day visit to Iran from 11-12 September. He held wide-ranging discussions with his Iranian counterpart, Ali Qomi, the Special Representative and called on the Foreign Minister of Iran, Amir Abdollahian. The visit reflects Pakistan’s commitment to closely work with other neighbouring countries in promoting the shared ideal of peace and stability in Afghanistan.
Today I would like to talk about the situation of women in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) where human rights violations continue unabated.
Women in IIOJK have frequently been targets of violence and aggression as a means to punish their families and communities for standing up against illegal and forcible Indian occupation. Abduction and harassment of young women during the so-called “cordon-and-search operations” has been used as a punitive tool by the Indian occupation forces to punish entire communities.
These acts of violence against women are enabled through a pervasive culture of impunity, reinforced by draconian laws such as the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) that shield the Indian security forces from prosecution for their crimes of sexual violence. The lack of accountability of perpetrators and the absence of justice for victims of rape in the occupied region continue to define India’s deliberate disregard for the rule of law and human rights.
These human rights violations must end so that the women of IIOJK can live in peace and dignity.
Now an upcoming announcement:
Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar will participate in the high-level debate of the 78th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in New York from 18-23 September 2023. Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani will accompany the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister will address the UN General Assembly on 22 September 2023. He will outline Pakistan’s perspective on a range of regional and global issues of concern including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute which is among the longest standing unresolved items on the UN agenda. The Prime Minister will elaborate on the significant measures being taken by the caretaker government to consolidate Pakistan’s economic recovery and efforts to mobilise domestic and external investment.
The Prime Minister will also participate in a Summit on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other high-level meetings organised under the auspice of the UN General Assembly. These will afford valuable platforms to deliberate on effective measures required at the global level for addressing the most pressing economic and development challenges confronting the Global South in the wake of the COVID pandemic, geo-political contestations and climate change.
On the sidelines of the UNGA session, the Prime Minister will hold bilateral meetings with counterparts from various countries as well as with the Heads of International Organisations, Philanthropic Organisations and corporate leaders. He will also avail of the opportunity to engage with other Heads of State and Government attending the UNGA session during the various activities organised on the sidelines. The Prime Minister will also hold interactions with the international media.
Pakistan sees the United Nations as the most representative and inclusive forum of nation-states. The Prime Minister’s participation in the General Assembly session is a demonstration of Pakistan’s abiding commitment to multilateralism, with the UN playing a pivotal role in international affairs for promoting peace and prosperity worldwide.
Editor: Raja Kamran