Transcript of the Press Briefing by the Spokesperson 19 August 2022

August 19, 2022|Media Briefing|

Office of the Spokesperson
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Transcript of the Press Briefing by the Spokesperson
19 August 2022

[This is a rush transcript. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated]

Assalam-o-Alaikum. Thank you for joining us for the Weekly Briefing.

Let me share with you at the outset, that the Prime Minister would be undertaking a visit to Qatar next week. The Foreign Minister is visiting four European countries - Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway. These visits manifest continuing intense engagement and diplomacy by Pakistan. We will be sharing further details about these visits in due course.

I would like to recall the activities for the 75th anniversary of our independence.

It was an occasion to celebrate our endeavors of the past 75 years, an occasion to celebrate our people and our progress as a nation.

You saw the messages from the President, the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister.

Officers of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs came together to pay a musical tribute to the homeland in a special rendition of song 'Yeh Watan Tumhara Hay' to celebrate the . We will also be hosting a special screening of the song for our media colleagues to partake the pride we feel at having been given the immense opportunity to represent our homeland internationally.

Our Embassies and Missions around the world celebrated the occasion with zeal and fervor through flag hoisting ceremonies, and a host of other events and activities that were enthusiastically attended by a large number of people from the Pakistani community, locals and host government officials.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

On 15th August, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a telephonic conversation with HRH Prince Mohammad bin Salman, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Crown Prince congratulated people of Pakistan on 75th Anniversary of Pakistan's Independence. The two leaders exchanged views on issues of mutual interest.

On 17th August Mr. Julien Harneis, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Pakistan, called on the Prime Minister. Various areas of UN's work and cooperation with Pakistan including the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, flood relief, food security, and ecosystem restoration were discussed during the meeting.

On the same day, delegation from a Turkish company 'Limak' called on the Prime Minister and discussed new opportunities for investment in the wake of recently signed Preferential Trade Agreement between the two countries.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

During the week, there has been a flurry of activity at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

On 17th August, the Foreign Minister received Mr. Rostam Ghasemi, Minister for Roads and Urban Development of Iran. The Foreign Minister highlighted fraternal ties between the two countries, rooted in shared history and cultural and linguistic affinities and reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in all areas of mutual interest.

On the same day, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had a video call with the Foreign Minister of Canada, Ms. Mélanie Joly. The Foreign Minister underlined that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Pakistan and Canada. He also underscored that Pakistan and Canada needed to further deepen and expand bilateral cooperation in diverse fields.

Yesterday, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Secretary General of Digital Cooperation Organization Deema Al-Yahya held a meeting via video link. Comprehensive development in digital economy in all member countries including Pakistan was discussed during the meeting.
Later in the day, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also met with Deputy Foreign Minister of Kyrgyzstan Artykbaev Aibek Muhtarovich. During the meeting bilateral relations and matters of mutual interest including promotion of trade, tourism and enhancement of cultural relations were discussed.
Also yesterday, Pakistan hosted 2nd Session of Bilateral Political Consultations with the Kyrgyz Republic. The entire gamut of bilateral relations as well as regional and multilateral issues came under discussion.

On 17th August the Kyrgyz Deputy Foreign Minister met the Foreign Secretary. Noting that the two countries were celebrating 30 years of the establishment of their diplomatic ties, the Foreign Secretary reaffirmed Pakistan's desire to further enhance multi-dimensional ties keeping in-view five planks of Pakistan's "Vision Central Asia," focused on political, trade and investment, energy and connectivity, security and defence, and people-to-people exchanges.

Addressing a special ceremony to recognize achievements of participants and position holders of 40th Specialized Diplomatic Course at the Foreign Service Academy yesterday, Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood stated with rightful institutional pride that over the years, Pakistani diplomats have proven their mettle on the world stage, earning praise for their skills and professionalism, from friends and foes alike. He expressed confidence in the young officers and wished them personal and professional success.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Coming over to the situation in IIOJK.

In a blatant display of state terrorism, Indian police took a political prisoner Mohammad Ali Hussain from Kothbalwal Jail Jammu and brought him at Toph Arnia area and killed him in a staged encounter. The killing of Mohammad Ali Hussain under mysterious circumstances at a location far away from the prison is yet another sickening chronicle and a dastardly practice of extra-judicial killing of prisoners in fake encounters by the Indian forces in occupied Kashmir.
This is the second such extrajudicial killing of a prisoner - as you would recall Zia Mustafa, from Rawlakot, was taken out of the Kothbalwal jail Jammu and brought to forests in Poonch by the Indian troops and subsequently killed in firing in October 2021.

Pakistan also categorically rejects the deliberate Indian attempts of pre-poll rigging and overt manipulation in IIOJK. Kashmiris themselves have also completely rejected the Modi government's decision to allow non-Kashmiri citizens and temporary residents in IIOJK, to vote in the so-called Kashmir Assembly elections.

The move reeks of a blatant attempt to undermine the disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir and the sinister design of turning the Muslim majority in IIOJK into a minority.

Since 2019, BJP led government in India has unleashed unspeakable atrocities on the innocent people of Jammu and Kashmir. Over 660 Kashmiris have been martyred by Indian Occupational Forces, including over 145 innocent lives this year alone. These cold blooded and blatantly unlawful acts include a ruthless policy of killing and arresting Kashmiris in fake cases, seizing their properties, and dismissing them from government jobs, with a view to suppress the ongoing freedom movement.

We salute the spirit of the oppressed people of IIOJK and their indomitable quest for the right to self-determination guaranteed to them by the UN Security Council. The people of IIOJK stand strong in the face of brutal acts and have categorically rejected the BJP government's illegal actions post August 2019.

We believe it is time for the international community to bring its moral force to bear with the Hindutva inspired BJP government of India today and to call for immediate halt of reprehensible state-backed violence, and to play its due 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.

Last modified: August 19, 2022