ISLAMABAD (APP): Pakistan on Thursday reiterated its call for the UN Security Council to take immediate measures to stop the genocide of Palestinian people, end Israel’s blatant violations of international laws and the UN Charter, and hold it accountable for war crimes.
Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, at her weekly press briefing, expressed grave concerns over the recent large-scale military incursion by Israeli forces in the northern part of the Occupied West Bank. She stated that this attack is another blatant violation of international law, including the 4th Geneva Convention, which prohibits the indiscriminate targeting of civilians.
She emphasized that repeated Israeli transgressions and the use of force, including airstrikes and drone attacks on populated areas, constitute blatant violations of international humanitarian laws. The spokesperson reiterated Pakistan’s strong condemnation of the bombing of the historic Grand Mosque in Khan Younis by Israeli forces, calling the assault on a place of deep cultural and religious significance a clear violation of international laws and The Hague Convention.
Responding to a question, the spokesperson mentioned that invitations had been sent to all heads of government of SCO member countries, including India, for the upcoming meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, to be held in Islamabad on October 15-16, 2024. She confirmed that Pakistan had received confirmations from some of the invited countries.
The spokesperson also informed the media that the third death anniversary of iconic Kashmiri leader Syed Ali Geelani would be observed on September 1. She remembered him as the true voice of the Kashmir struggle for self-determination and paid tribute to his efforts. She reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to providing political, diplomatic, and moral support to Kashmiris for a just and peaceful settlement of the Kashmir dispute, as per UNSC resolutions.
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Highlighting recent diplomatic engagements, she mentioned Foreign Secretary Muhammad Syrus Sajjad Qazi’s visit to Cameroon, where he led a Pakistani delegation at the 50th session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers. At the CFM, he will share Pakistan’s perspective on the genocide in Gaza, the dire humanitarian situation, and Israeli adventurism in the region, which threatens regional peace. He will also highlight Indian atrocities in IIOJK, as well as issues of Islamophobia and climate change.
Spokesperson Baloch noted that the 8th session of Pakistan-Oman Bilateral Political Consultations (BPC) was held in Muscat earlier this week. During the session, both sides reviewed all aspects of bilateral cooperation, including political relations, trade and investment, security and defense, culture, health, and consular matters.
Additionally, she mentioned that National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq led a parliamentary delegation on an official visit to Belarus at the invitation of the Chairman of the House of Representatives of Belarus. In Minsk, he met with the President, the Chairman of the House of Representatives, the Chairperson of the Council of the Republic of Belarus, and the Minister for Agriculture. Both sides affirmed their commitment to expanding bilateral relations and enhancing parliamentary exchanges and cooperation across various sectors, including agriculture, industry, education, and culture, with a focus on increasing bilateral trade.
In response to another question, Baloch stated that the government had no plans to engage in any talks with the TTP. She confirmed that the presence of terror groups, including the TTP in Afghanistan, was also corroborated by multiple international reports, including those from the United Nations.