ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has called upon India to resume normal functioning of the Treaty and fully honour its international obligations.
Foreign Office Spokesperson, Shafqat Ali Khan, at his weekly media briefing in Islamabad on Friday, welcomed a Supplemental Award issued on June 27th by the Court of Arbitration in the Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric dispute between Pakistan and India.
“The Court reaffirmed its competence to continue proceedings despite India’s unilateral attempt to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance. This Award vindicates Pakistan’s legal and moral stance,” he stated. “We call upon India to resume normal functioning under the Treaty and fully honor its international obligations,” he said.
He added that India is in no position to make a unilateral decision on the Indus Waters Treaty, which is of critical importance for Pakistan’s water security.
India’s war mania
The Spokesperson said that Pakistan has repeatedly highlighted India’s rapid war preparations, while Pakistan remains ready to respond to any threat.
He stated that Pakistan continues to draw the international community’s attention to India’s increasing militarisation and military buildup.
Two State-Solution
To a question, he said there has been no change in the position on the two-state solution for Palestine.
He noted that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has presented his clear position on the Abrahamic Accords, and there has been no change in our position on the two-state solution for Palestine.
SAARC and Indian stubbornness
The spokesperson said Pakistan is ready to host the SAARC (The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) summit. However, only one country—India—is an obstacle to holding this meeting.
Pakistan remains committed to the principles of the SAARC Charter, but the main reason for SAARC’s inactivity is our eastern neighbor, India.
Security Council Presidency
The Spokesperson said Pakistan has assumed the Presidency of the United Nations Security Council for the month of July this year, and it undertakes this responsibility with a deep sense of purpose, humility, and conviction.
He said Pakistan’s approach will continue to remain anchored in the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, respect for international law, and a steadfast commitment to multilateralism.
Shafqat Ali Khan said that as a country that has consistently advocated dialogue and diplomacy, Pakistan brings to the Security Council an objective, principled and balanced perspective shaped by its foreign policy, past experience at the Council and its long-standing contributions to the maintenance of international peace and security including through UN peacekeeping and peace-building efforts.
The Spokesperson said Pakistan is mindful of the multiple, interlocking challenges to international peace and security across Middle East, South Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and other regions. He said the immense human cost of these crises demands a Security Council that is responsive, credible, and effective.
Plight of Kashmiri prisoners
Turning to the prevailing situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), the Foreign Office Spokesperson said Pakistan, from time to time, has been inviting the international community’s attention towards the plight of the Kashmiri political prisoners, languishing in various jails in India and IIOJK.
Shafqat Ali Khan said these prisoners include a prominent Kashmiri leader, Shabbir Ahmed Shah, who has spent more than half of his seventy-two years’ life in different jails.
The Spokesperson urged the Indian authorities to immediately release Shabbir Ahmed Shah in view of his medical condition.
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, One China Policy
The diplomat replying to the question said the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is an important and global forum.
The Spokesperson said that Pakistan supports the One China policy. Pakistan reiterates its support for China on all major issues. “We support China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, including Tibet,” he said
Pak-China Consultations
Ambassador Shafqat briefed the media on the Fifth Round of Pakistan-China Consultations on Multilateral Issues, held on June 26th in Beijing.
“Led by Special Secretary Ambassador Nabeel Munir, Pakistan and China reaffirmed convergence on a wide range of UN-related issues and agreed to further strengthen coordination on global peace and security,” he noted.
Ties with Afghanistan
The Foreign Office Spokesperson said that Pakistan’s relations with Afghanistan are very important, adding that Pakistan consistently raises the issue of terrorism with Afghan authorities. He said Pakistan aims to further improve relations with Afghanistan.
The Spokesperson identified terrorism as the main challenge in Pak-Afghan relations and stated that India is involved in supporting this terrorism. These concerns have been shared with Afghanistan, as there are terrorists operating within Afghan territory.
In response to a question regarding the repatriation of Afghan refugees, the spokesperson said that the POR cards of Afghan refugees expired on June 30. Further decisions on this matter will be made by the Ministry of Interior and relevant agencies.
