The Foreign Office Thursday said that the in-depth discussion on Jammu and Kashmir issue in the UN Security Council Wednesday has put to rest the Indian narrative of Kashmir being its internal matter.
"The fact that the UNSC held an in-depth briefing on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute reaffirms that this is an internationally recognized dispute," said Foreign Office Spokesperson Aisha Farooqui in her weekly media briefing while referring to the closed session of the UN Security Council held on the 164th day of the humanitarian nightmare in IoJ&K on Wednesday at Pakistan's request which was supported by China.
She insisted that the issue of Jammu and Kashmir continues to remain on the agenda of the UNSC for over seven decades, adding that in the last five months, this is the second in-depth briefing that the Council members have held, in which all 15 members participated including the P5 countries.
"Many countries including P5 countries expressed their concerns on the ongoing deteriorating situation in Indian-occupied Jammu & Kashmir. So, any debate that whether the dispute of Jammu & Kashmir is an internal matter of India has been put to rest," she added.
She said that the discussions at the UNSC lasted over an hour and the UN and UNMOGIP representatives briefed the Council members and confirmed that India's 5th August measures have resulted in the rise of tensions and that the "local situation" remains tense. "Political leaders remain detained, internet and communications blockage (are) in place. There is also deployment across the LoC. The UNMOGIP continues to face restrictions on the Indian side," she said.
"Pakistan is gratified that the Security Council has once again considered the Jammu and Kashmir situation," she said, adding that the UNSC session has once again reaffirmed that Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally recognized dispute and its final disposition must be done in accordance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the popular aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
The item on India-Pakistan question remains on the UNSC agenda, and the Council remains seized of this matter, she said and hoped that such continuing international scrutiny will exert pressure on Modi government to reverse its unilateral measures and stop its human rights and ceasefire violations and threats against Pakistan.
To a question about Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi's trip to Tehran, Riyadh and Washington despite the already de-escalated tension between the US and Iran, she insisted Pakistan is an important country with strong and historical relations with all the countries in the region.
Since the developments in the region after 03 January 2020, she stated, the Foreign Minister has undertaken intensive outreach in the Middle East under the Prime Minister's direction and as part of Pakistan's ongoing efforts towards peace and stability in the region.
In this connection, she added that the foreign minister held very important meetings in Iran and Saudi Arabia and spoke to a number of his counterparts in the region and beyond.
"The foreign minister put forward Pakistan's point of view that war is in no one's interest. Pakistan is a partner for peace. So, when the issues of war and peace are at hand, you do not wait for invitation, you go forward and contribute. And that is what Pakistan has always done and what Pakistan will always do," she added.
In Washington, she said that it is the third leg of his present tour, adding that Qureshi will be holding important meetings with the senior officials in Washington, including his counterpart Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien.
"He will share Pakistan's concerns on the deteriorating situation in the Indian-occupied Jammu & Kashmir, the evolving situation in the Middle East and the Afghan peace process, and will also discuss the full spectrum of bilateral cooperation. So the foreign minister will have a very comprehensive set of discussions in Washington," she added.
When asked whether Prime Minister Imran Khan will participate in the SCO Summit in New Delhi, she said that she will check and revert to the media with details.
To another query, she said that the visit of the Prime Minister to Davos is also on the cards.
To another question, she said that the top US envoy Ambassador Alice Wells is due to arrive in Islamabad and she will have discussions in Foreign Office and other ministries as well on various bilateral issues that are presently on agenda.
Commenting on media reports that Foreign Office has asked its missions in Saudi Arabia, Dubai and Abu Dhabi to make payment of $6 million from their social welfare fund for the Hyderabad Fund Case, she termed the reports as fabricated and based on assumptions. "There is no such thing, not a single penny has been utilized from the community welfare funds of our Missions," she added.
Responding to another query, she said that there are over 10,000 Pakistanis jailed abroad, adding that Pakistan embassies and consulates, all over the world, are very mindful of Pakistanis who are imprisoned on various charges, according to local laws.
Around half of them are convicted on criminal charges that range from an entire gamut of criminal activities, including violations of immigration law etc, she added.
On the issue of Pakistani prisoners in Saudi Arabia, she said that Pakistan's Missions in Saudi Arabia have been discussing the issue with the Saudi authorities. "We have been informed that 579 prisoners have been released under the clemency announced by the Crown Prince," she said. In addition, around 1,500 prisoners have been released under other clemencies and completion of their sentences, she added.
On the Afghan peace process, she said that Pakistan has welcomed the resumption of US-Taliban peace talks. "We hope that the talks would be concluded at the earliest leading the way to Intra-Afghan negotiations," she said. Under this umbrella, all efforts and negotiations whether it is ceasefire or any other aspect of the peace process is welcomed by Pakistan, she added.
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