ISLAMABAD
Foreign Office ( FO) has made it clear in unequivocal terms that Pakistan stance on Abraham Accord is clear, unchanged and unwavering. Pakistan will continue to support the establishment of a “sovereign and independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital,
Pakistan will safeguard its rights on river Chenab under Indus Water Treaty. India is bound to uphold Indus Waters Treaty, this was said by FO spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi during his weekly press briefing here Thursday.
This was stated by Foreign Office Spokesperson, Tahir Andrabi, while responding to the queries regarding invitation of bids by the Indian government for a project to transfer water from Chenab to Beas at his weekly media briefing in Islamabad today.
The Spokesperson said such an inter-basin diversion of water of Chenab into Beas River system constitute a grave violation of not just the Indus water treaty, but also of the laws of treaty, particularly the Vienna Convention on the Laws of Treaty, as well as broader framework of international water law. including the principles reflected in the 1997 UN Convention on Water Courses.
He also described the proposed silt flushing of the Salal Dam reservoir in Reasi district of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir as a deeply concerning development. He noted it would provide water control capability that is not permissible either under the Indus Water Treaty or the 1978 Salal agreement.
The spokesperson said India has neither officially communicated nor shared any notice of these projects nor it has sought consultations in this regard. He said these projects confirm that India seeks to weaponize water. This carries dangerous implications, not only for Pakistan’s economy, but also for regional stability and international peace and security.
Tahir Andrabi said Pakistan has exercised restraint and responsibility and we remain committed to dialogue and peaceful resolution of disputes.
However, he made it clear that any illegal action to endanger Pakistan’s water, food and economic security, as well as the survival and well-being of its 250 million people is unacceptable. He said such actions amount to further destabilization of South Asia with potential grave consequences for the people of the entire region.
The spokesperson urged the international community to call upon India to desist from any form of water coercion, abandon projects that seek to stop, reduce or divert water flow legally belonging to Pakistan and restore full and faithful implementation of the Indus water treaty.
When asked about the visit of Swiss Ambassador to India to the Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the Spokesperson said Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally recognized international dispute. He said the visit of any international personality does not alter the status of the Jammu and Kashmir as an internationally recognised dispute whose resolution is to be achieved through independent and impartial plebiscite.
The spokesperson referred to a joint statement by foreign ministers of eight countries — Pakistan, Egypt, Turkey, Indonesia, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Jordan — strongly condemning Israeli actions at Al-Aqsa Mosque and reaffirming support for a two-state solution.
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He said that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar visited the United States, where he held meetings with members of the US leadership.
Andrabi said that in New York, Dar participated in the UN Security Council open debate on the maintenance of international peace and security, focused on upholding the UN Charter and strengthening the UN-centred international system. He also attended the Group of Friends on Global Governance, which discussed reforms to global governance and the challenges it faces.
On the sidelines, the deputy prime minister held bilateral meetings with several foreign ministers and senior UN officials, including the UN Secretary-General and counterparts from Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Cambodia, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czech Republic, Indonesia, Panama, and Portugal.
The FO officially rejected media speculations and reports alleging that Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar shared information on Iran’s nuclear program during his recent meeting with U.S. Senator Marco Rubio
Such speculations are attempt to harm ongoing diplomatic efforts.
He described the past two weeks as being marked by “very hectic diplomatic engagements,” despite the Eid holidays.
He said the period included Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to China, the visits of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar’s to China, New York, and Washington, as well as the visit of the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kalla Kaja’s visit to Pakistan.
Giving details of the prime minister’s visit to China, the spokesperson said it was undertaken at the invitation of the Government of the People’s Republic of China from May 23 to 26. During the visit, Shehbaz held meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang.
He added that the prime minister also chaired a Pakistan-China B2B investment conference in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, focusing on IT and telecom, battery energy storage, and agriculture. A detailed joint statement was issued after the visit. DPM/FM Dar accompanied the Prime Minister to China, before travelling directly from Beijing to New York for his engagements between May 26 and 28.
He made it clear it has always been the stance of Pakistan that dialogue and diplomacy and not war is solution to differences
The FO urged the international community to call upon India to “desist from any form of water coercion, abandon projects that seek to stop, reduce or divert water flow legally belonging to Pakistan, and restore full and faithful implementation of the IWT”.
During question hour, Andrabi said that 10 Pakistanis are still in the custody of Somali pirates and that contact had been established with the Somali government and efforts are underway to ensure their safe return.
He said Pakistan is becoming target of terrorism from Afghan land persistently. Pakistan reserves its right for taking legal and just measures for protection of its citizens.
