By Asghar Ali Mubarak
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday reiterated its call to the Indian government for lifting the communication blackout from the Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir in view of the growing number of coronavirus patients in the territory.
In her weekly press briefing, Foreign Office Spokesperson Aisha Farooqui said while expressing concerns over the communication blackout, said the Indian government was depriving the Kashmir people of critical information and supplies of medical items critically needed to effectively contain COVID-19 pandemic.
She demanded that the medical teams and supplies be allowed to reach the people of occupied Jammu and Kashmir. She said that Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood
Qureshi, during his interaction with the SAARC counterparts in recent days, reaffirmed Pakistan’scommitment to the SAARC process. She said Pakistan had proposed a video conference of SAARC health ministers at an early date to coordinate efforts to stem the coronavirus in the region.
The spokesperson said it was utmost endeavor of the Pakistan’s government and missions abroad to ensure the safety and early return of our nationals stranded in different parts of the world. She said Pakistan’s missions were actively in contact with the local authorities and helping the Pakistani nationals with food, medicines and accommodation. She pointed out that the government in recent days operated special flights to repatriate the stranded Pakistanis from Saudi Arabia, Dubai and Doha.
Foreign Office Spokesperson Aisha Farooqui has said that in the wake of coronavirus outbreak across the globe, India needs to end the communication blackout in occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&K).
