Opening statement of MoFA Spokesperson’s weekly Press Briefing on 1st October 2020. Full Text

Assalam-o-Alaikum and Welcome to our Weekly Press Briefing

Let me begin with Prime Minister Imran Khan’s address to the 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly on 25th September.

In his address, the Prime Minister shared Pakistan’s perspective on all major regional and international issues, including COVID-19 pandemic, Prime Minister’s debt relief initiative for developing countries, Jammu and Kashmir dispute, treatment of minorities in India, Palestine issue, Afghan Peace Process, Illicit financial flows, climate change, Islamophobia, and the United Nations reforms.

The Prime Minister also made specific recommendations on these issues.

On Debt Relief, the Prime Minister underscored the need for additional debt relief measures for developing countries.

He called for creation of at least US$500 billion in new Special Drawing Rights and reallocation of unutilized SDRs to developing countries.

On illicit financial flows, the Prime Minister called upon the General Assembly to take the lead in efforts to build a global framework to stem the illicit financial flows and ensure speedy repatriation of stolen wealth.

On Climate Change, the Prime Minister emphasized that commitments made through the Paris Agreement must be fulfilled, in particular the commitment to mobilize US$ 100 billion annually as climate finance.

Regarding Islamophobia, the Prime Minister reiterated that wilful provocations and incitement to hate and violence must be universally outlawed.

He called for the UN General Assembly to declare an “International Day to Combat Islamophobia” and build a coalition to end this scourge.

Once again raising the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, the Prime Minister drew the world community’s attention towards continuing military siege, extra-judicial killings, incarceration of Kashmiri leadership and youth, collective punishments, use of pellet guns and restrictions on all fundamental freedoms in IIOJK.

The Prime Minister particularly highlighted the reprehensible Indian efforts to illegally alter the demographic structure of IIOJK through distribution of fake domicile certificates to the non-Kashmiris.

He called upon the Security Council to ensure urgent implementation of its own Resolutions and take appropriate enforcement actions to grant the Kashmiri people their inalienable right of self-determination.

The Prime Minister underscored that there can be no durable peace and stability in South Asia until the Jammu and Kashmir dispute is resolved on the basis of international legitimacy.

Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation (HCNR) of Afghanistan, Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, paid an official visit to Pakistan from 28-30 September 2020.

Dr Abdullah was accompanied by a high-level delegation, including prominent members of the High Council for National Reconciliation.

During his visit, Dr Abdullah called on the Prime Minister and the President and held meetings with the Chairman Senate, Speaker of the National Assembly, Foreign Minister and other dignitaries.

In his meeting with Dr. Abdullah, the Prime Minister reiterated his longstanding position that there is no military solution to the conflict in Afghanistan and that a political solution is the only way forward.

Commending the start of the Intra-Afghan Negotiations in Doha on 12 September, the Prime Minister expressed the hope that Afghan leadership would seize this historic opportunity to work together constructively and secure an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive political settlement.

The Prime Minister also underscored that all Afghan parties must work for reduction in violence leading to ceasefire and conveyed that Pakistan would support whatever the Afghans agree upon about the future of their country.

He further reaffirmed Pakistan’s full support to the post-conflict Afghanistan, on its path to reconstruction and economic development.

During his meetings Dr Abdullah appreciated Pakistan’s critical role in facilitating the Afghan peace process, and thanked Pakistan for hosting millions of Afghan refugees.

He reaffirmed the Afghan commitment to further strengthen relations with Pakistan in all areas of cooperation.

Let me also share with you, Pakistan’s deep concern over the deteriorating security situation in Nagorno-Karabakh region.

The intensive shelling by the Armenian forces on civilian populations of Azerbaijani villages is reprehensible and most unfortunate.

Pakistan stands with the brotherly nation of Azerbaijan and supports its right of self-defence.

We support Azerbaijan’s position on Nagorno-Karabakh, which is in line with the several unanimously adopted UN Security Council Resolutions.

Since we have been receiving many queries regarding the extension of Saudi visas known as Iqamas (work permits), let me also update you in this regard.

As you would know, the Iqamas of many Pakistanis expired on 30 September 2020.

To extend full support to such Pakistanis, the Foreign Office took up the matter with the Saudi Authorities both for extension of Iqamas as well as well additional flights from Pakistan to Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi authorities have confirmed to us that, now Iqama holders can get their Iqamas extended even from the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Islamabad after the requisite approval of their Kafeels (both private person and company).

If the kafeel is a company, then company will channel Iqama extension request to the Saudi Embassy, Islamabad through the Saudi Foreign Office.

And in case the Kafeel is a private person, Iqamas can be extended through an online website called, “Abshar”.

The Saudi authorities have also cleared 47 out of 118 PIA flights for the month of October 2020.

The clearance of remaining flights is under process.

Coming to the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the situation continues to deteriorate for 423 days since India’s illegal and unilateral actions of 5th August 2019.

In brazen manifestation of state terrorism, Indian occupation forces martyred six more innocent Kashmiris in “fake encounters” and so-called “cordon-and-search” operations in Anantnag and Pulwama during the past week.

Another voice, critical of Indian illegal actions and brutalization of Kashmiris, was silenced when Kashmiri lawyer and activist Advocate Babar Qadri, was shot dead by unidentified attackers in Srinagar.

Pakistan strongly condemns and seeks independent investigation into the gruesome killings of innocent Kashmiris, including Advocate Qadri.

India’s efforts to subjugate the Kashmiri people through killings, torture, forced disappearances, incarcerations, brutalization and collective punishments have failed in the past and will not succeed in future.

By now India must have realized that the resolve of the Kashmiri people is stronger than the Indian occupation army, and the sound of their silence is louder than the gunshots fired upon them.

Pakistan will continue to call for holding India accountable for its crimes against the Kashmiri people.

In attempts to divert world attention, India continues to escalate tensions along the Line of Control.

The recent unprovoked ceasefire violations by India on 24th , 28th and 30th September have resulted in one shahadat and serious injuries to seven.

This year, India has committed 2404 ceasefire violations to date, resulting in 19 shahadats and serious injuries to 192 innocent civilians.

As part of Pakistan’s efforts to keep the UN Security Council and the Secretary General fully apprised of the grave situation in IIOJK as well as peace and security in the region, the Foreign Minister has addressed another letter to the Council President.

In his letter, the Foreign Minister has highlighted the gross and systematic violations of human rights in IIOJK, India’s illegal measures to change the demographic structure of the occupied territory, and the threat to peace and security posed by India’s belligerent rhetoric and actions.

Recent crackdown against Amnesty International by the Indian government is another manifestation of its extremist agenda and inability to hear the truth from independent human rights organisations.

The BJP regime’s action has once again revealed the true face of India to the world.

Today, the so-called largest democracy in the world stands fully exposed.

I would leave it to the conscience of the world to find a description that can more aptly describe today’s India, under its current political leadership.

Yesterday’s flawed decision by the Special CBI Court in India in the Babri Masjid demolition case is yet another manifestation of permeation of extremist ‘Hindutva’ ideology in all state institutions of India.

Pakistan strongly condemns the shameful acquittal of all 32 criminals responsible for demolishing the centuries-old Babri Masjid in Ayodhya in 1992.

The pliant judiciary’s decision is a sad reminder of the fact that under the fascist BJP-RSS regime, extremist ‘Hindutva’ ideology takes precedence over all principles of justice and international norms.

Pakistan urges the Government of India to ensure safety, security and protection of minorities, particularly Muslims and their places of worship and other Islamic sites on which the Hindu extremists and zealots have laid unfounded claims.

I thank you all and am happy to take any questions on these or other foreign policy related developments.