From Asghar Ali Mubarak
ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office has reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to pursuing good relations with all countries.
At her weekly news briefing in Islamabad on Friday, Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch stated that Pakistan does not believe in zero-sum relationships.
The expansion of our relations with one country should not be considered as coming at the expense of our relationship with any other country.
Responding to a question, the spokesperson once again stated that there is no dialogue taking place between Pakistan and the TTP.
She emphasized that Pakistan has stated on a number of occasions that the proposals to initiate talks with the TTP are an affront to the families of thousands of victims of terrorism.
She also condemned the ongoing brutalities of Israeli forces in Palestine.
“The international organizations should take stern action against the Israeli forces over the genocide of Palestinians,” she said.
Earlier, Pakistan has condemned Israel’s recent military aggression against Lebanon, calling it a grave violation of international law and the UN Charter.
Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in a press briefing on Thursday.
At the weekly briefing held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Baloch highlighted the ongoing violence in Gaza, accusing Israeli occupation forces of committing grave violations of international humanitarian law.
She also condemned the recent return of a container with 88 decomposing bodies of Palestinians to Gaza, describing the act as a violation of basic human dignity and international standards.
Baloch called on the international community to hold Israel accountable for its alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.
In discussing Pakistan’s international engagements, Baloch shared that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is currently in New York, attending high-level meetings at the 79th United Nations General Assembly session.
The Prime Minister has called for urgent global support to help developing countries escape the dual challenges of debt traps and climate change-related disasters. He emphasised the need for reforming the global financial system to create a more equitable environment for vulnerable nations.
She further highlighted that the Prime Minister also participated in meetings addressing the existential threat posed by rising sea levels and the UN Security Council’s debate on leadership for peace.
Pakistan will actively pursue these objectives when it assumes its seat on the Security Council next year, Baloch added.
Regarding the Kashmir dispute, Baloch noted that Pakistan would continue to provide diplomatic, political, and moral support to Kashmiris in their struggle for self-determination. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation’s (OIC) contact group on Jammu and Kashmir reaffirmed its support for the Kashmiri people during a recent meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session in New York.
