ISLAMABAD
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is on official 2-day visit to Germany on the invitation of German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, foreign office spokes person told on Friday in weekly breing
The visit is an important opportunity to strengthen bilateral cooperation and exchange of views on issues ranging from the climate-induced floods in Pakistan to regional and global situation. We will keep sharing further details as the visit progresses.
Sustaining the momentum of flood relief efforts and continuing international spotlight on the challenging situation remains top priority of the Government of Pakistan.
UN Revised Flash Appeal to the tune of USD 816 million revised, on 4 October, Floods Response by USD 656 million from the initial appeal of USD 160 million. This increase reflects the rising needs and the unprecedented scale of destruction caused by the disaster and is focused on provision of urgent and lifesaving assistance and protection to the affected people.
Spokesperson told that “our Missions across the world are engaged in extensive outreach to better inform the international community and to mobilize response. You would have seen the European Parliament’s debate in Strasbourg with some very powerful statements and expressions of support for Pakistan.”
In New York, the UN General Assembly will adopt a resolution, which was introduced by Pakistan, and was co-sponsored by over 130 countries. This resolution expresses strong solidarity and support for the Government and people of Pakistan in the wake of the devastating floods.
Explaining the details of week long performance he told that on 4th of October, Mr. Janez Lenarcic, European Commissioner for Crisis Management called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. EU has committed further Euros 30 million in humanitarian aid for the flood affectees. Right Honorable Angela Reynar, the Deputy Leader of the British Labour Party, accompanied by Lord Wajid Khan, Member of House of Lords, called on the Prime Minister. The visiting delegation assured the Prime Minister of their continued cooperation to garner support for flood affected population.
Turkish Red Crescent Goodwill Ambassador and Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan Mehmet Pacaci also called on Prime Minister the same day.
On Thursday, he told, his Excellency Sheikh Dr. Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, Secretary General of the Muslim World League called on the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister appreciated the efforts for Muslim unity, highlighting important causes such as Kashmir and Palestine, and spreading the message of peace, tolerance and inter-faith harmony. He also appreciated the support provided by Saudi Arabia to Pakistan in the aftermath of the floods.
During the week, the Ambassador of China H.E. Nong Rong, U.S. Special Representative on Afghanistan, Mr. Thomas West, European Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarcic and the Ambassador of Kuwait, H.E Nassar Abdulrahman J Almutairi called on Minister of State Hina Rabbani Khar. During these meetings, diverse areas of bilateral cooperation and global and regional issues of mutual interest came under discussion, he went on, Pakistan-EU Joint Commission Session was also held in Islamabad on 5th of October.
Spokesperson also reiterated the rejection on Indian External Affairs Minister’s highly irresponsible remarks insinuating at Pakistan’s so-called involvement in “international terrorism”.
Pakistan’s contribution to world peace, from successful counter-terrorism operations to our role in the global fight against terrorism, is widely acknowledged by the international community, said Asim Iftekhar
In stark contrast, he maintained, nowhere is state-terrorism more evident than in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK), where over 900,000 Indian occupation forces continue to terrorize, torture and torment innocent Kashmiris with impunity.
He further said that Indian Charge d’Affaires (Cd’A) in Islamabad was called to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs last week and conveyed Government of Pakistan’s serious concerns over the deteriorating health condition of Hurriyat leader Altaf Ahmed Shah who has been incarcerated in the infamous Tihar Jail for the last five years and is suffering from renal cancer and is consistently denied medical aid by Indian authorities.
Reprehensibly, in the past one-week, Indian forces have blatantly carried out a series of extra-judicial murders with impunity. Eight innocent Kashmiris were mercilessly martyred by Indian occupation forces in Baramulla, Shopian and Pulwama, continued the spokesperson, since its unilateral and illegal actions of 5th August 2019, Indian occupation forces have martyred more than 678 Kashmiris, including at least 158 this year.
Pakistan reiterates its call for the investigation of extra-judicial killings in IIOJK by a Commission of Inquiry as recommended by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in its Kashmir Reports of 2018 and 2019, said Asim Ifterkhar.
Pakistan urges the international community to hold India responsible for its brazen persecution of innocent Kashmiris and play its role in ensuring a just and peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people he concluded.
