Indian-occupied Jammu & Kashmir: Pakistan working to optimally utilise all OIC mechanisms: FO

Foreign Office said Thursday that Pakistan is working to optimally utilize all the OIC mechanisms including a special session of OIC Foreign Ministers' session to highlight the worsening human rights and humanitarian situation in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&K).

Speaking at weekly media briefing, Foreign Office Spokesperson Aisha Farooqui also skipped to respond various queries about Pakistan's decision to stay away from the last month's Kuala Lumpur Summit.

"I would also like to highlight that our relations with Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Turkey are very important. We value these relationships and continue to work to strengthen them," she asserted.

To a question, she said that the OIC has consistently supported Pakistan on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, adding that two meetings of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir were convened, in the immediate aftermath of 5th August 2019 in which the foreign minister participated.

With regard to an expected special session of the OIC's Foreign Ministers on Kashmir, she said: "We are working to optimally utilize all the OIC mechanisms to highlight the worsening human rights and humanitarian situation in the IOJ&K." In this context, a special session of OIC Foreign Ministers is also envisaged, for which work remains in progress, she added.

She stated that the 47th regular Session of Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) OIC is scheduled to be held in Niger in April 2020. Furthermore, Pakistan has already offered to host the 48th regular session of the CFM in Islamabad in 2021 as well, she added.

To another query about taking India to International Court of Justice (ICJ) for its illegal and unilateral actions of 5th August 2019, she said that the efforts to highlight the Modi government's illegal actions is an ongoing effort and will be a sustained diplomatic campaign. "We will put forward the case of the people of IOJ&K at all relevant international forums after evaluating the pros and cons," she added.

Asked whether the KL Summit would also come under discussion during the visit of the UAE's Crown Prince, she said whenever the two leaderships meet all major issues are discussed in detail.

She said that the UAE is a brotherly country and the relationship between Pakistan and the UAE goes back decades. "This is a relationship that is both wide and deep," she said, adding that during the visit, the entire spectrum of bilateral relations and regional and international issues of common interest will be discussed.

She said the frequent exchange of high-level visits between Pakistan and the UAE is reflective of the importance that the two countries attach to their fraternal ties.

About the Afghan peace process, she said that Pakistan has played a positive role towards resumption of the peace process in Afghanistan, adding that it has been Pakistan's desire to seek an early and successful conclusion of the peace process and US-Taliban talks, which will lead to intra Afghan dialogue. "We continue to support and facilitate the process," she added.

To another query about harassment of Pakistani diplomats as well as the recent incident of kidnapping on Wednesday in Afghanistan, she said the matter has been taken up with the Afghan side in Kabul and Islamabad.

"We are seized of the matter and are aware that such incidents have taken place more than once," she said, adding, "the safety and security of Pakistani nationals is of great importance to us and we will keep raising the matter with the Afghan government."