Assalam-o-Alaikum,
 
Thanks for joining us for the Weekly Briefing.
 
The First ever Global Health Security Summit commenced in Islamabad yesterday to discuss global health threats and foster international cooperation and strategic partnerships to increase global health security. The participating Health Ministers and international health leaders and experts from over 70 countries are discussing the impact of global health security on national health security; pandemic preparedness and response; climate change and emerging public health threats; multi-sectoral coordination; sustainable and equitable financing for global health security; access to universal health coverage; and, ensuring vaccine equity.
 
In his opening remarks, Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani emphasized the need for global solidarity and international cooperation to ensure global health security and underlined that only an equitable global health architecture can help protect everyone from future pandemics.
 
In his keynote address at the summit yesterday, Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar highlighted the interdependence of nations in the face of external and internal health challenges required for a collective response. He called for a united global front in addressing health security challenges, beyond national interests, transcending national borders.
 
The conference concludes today with the adoption of Islamabad Declaration which will highlight the importance of a series of actionable plans that will ensure a robust global response to health emergencies, equitable access to healthcare, and the fostering of a sustainable and inclusive health ecosystem.
 
Pakistan has rejected the US State Department's classification of Pakistan as a "Country of Particular Concern" (CPC). There are serious questions about the credibility and transparency of the process of making such classifications. We also believe that such unilateral, arbitrary and subjective designations and reports are counterproductive and undermine the objective of advancing religious freedoms.
 
Pakistan supports the application filed by South Africa before the International Court of Justice concerning Israel’s violations of its obligations under the 1951 Genocide Convention in relation to the Palestinian people in Gaza.
 
We consider this legal action timely and an important step towards holding Israel to account for its well-documented atrocities unleashed against Palestinian people since 7 October 2023. Pakistan shares the concerns raised in the application by South Africa. Israel's ongoing military aggression and actions against the Palestinian people constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity and amount to genocidal acts.
 
We reiterate our call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire; an end to Israel's unabated massacre of the Palestinian people;  lifting of the inhumane siege; and expeditious delivery of humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people.
 
Pakistan firmly believes that the only just solution to the Palestinian question is the creation of an independent, viable, sovereign and contiguous Palestinian State along the pre-June 1967 borders with Al-Quds-Al-Sharif as its capital.
 
The fifth of January was observed as the Right to Self-Determination Day for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. On this day in 1949, the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP) adopted a resolution guaranteeing a free and fair plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir, to enable the Kashmiri people to realize their right to self-determination.
 
The right to self-determination is a fundamental tenet of international law. Every year, the UN General Assembly adopts a resolution that reaffirms the legal right of people to decide their own destiny. It expresses unequivocal support for the realization of the right to self-determination for peoples under foreign occupation. For over seventy years, India has denied the Kashmiri people their inalienable right to self determination.
 
We urge India to respect the rights and freedoms of the people in IIOJK so that the Kashmiri people can exercise their right to self-determination as enshrined in the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
 
Pakistan will continue to extend political, diplomatic and moral support to our Kashmiri brothers and sisters for the just and peaceful settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UN Security Council Resolutions.
 
Now an upcoming visit announcement.
 
Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-HaqKakar will visit Davos, Switzerland, on 15-19 January 2024, to participate in the 54th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF).
 
The WEF is an annual gathering of government and corporate leaders for discussions on contemporary trends and challenges, developments shaping the world, and charting collective policy responses. The theme of this year's meeting is "Rebuilding Trust."
 
The Prime Minister will attend three key thematic events – (a) preventing an era of global conflict; (b) restoring faith in the global system; and (c) preventing economic fracture.
 
The Prime Minister will also deliver a keynote address on the theme "Trade Tech's Trillion Dollar Promise" and hold meetings with government and business leaders on the sidelines.
 
Thank you!
 * 
 
Mateen Haider, G News: I would just like to seek your comments on the proceedings, expected to take place in International Court of Justice. Pakistan Mission to the UN that has finally endorsed South Africa’s application. Any comments on the proceedings against Israel for committing genocide and war crimes in Palestine?
 
Anwar Abbas, Aik News: Kindly elaborate, will Pakistan be a party to this case?
​
Spokesperson: First of all, Mr. Mateen Haider, I already spoke about this at length in my opening remarks. Perhaps you came a bit late. Pakistan supports the application filed by South Africa before the International Court of Justice concerning Israel's violations of its obligations under the 1951 Genocide Convention. We consider the legal action timely and an important step towards holding Israel to account and we share the concerns raised in the application by South Africa.
 
Joe Stenson, AFP: I wonder what the Foreign Ministry's stance on Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman meeting with the Taliban supreme leader in Kabul in Kandahar. This is a man who is clearly not just a private citizen. He has a government affiliation. And he's conducting some sort of diplomacy there. I wonder what your stance is on that.
 
Allah Noor, Mashriq TV: Has Pakistan sent the president of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman, to Afghanistan, or has he visited Afghanistan in his own capacity?​
 
Naveed Siddiqui, Dateline Islamabad: In continuation of Allah Noor’s question, was the Foreign Office taken on board in this matter? And it is being reported from the Afghan media that he has a special message from Pakistan to deliver which means the Foreign Office is on board?
​
Spokesperson: First, Maulana Fazal-ur-Rahman is a private citizen, who is visiting Afghanistan on a private visit at the invitation of the Afghan authorities. This is not a visit sponsored by the Government of Pakistan. Secondly, before his travel to Afghanistan, he visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs briefed him on our policy towards Afghanistan. This is a normal practice whenever a senior official or political figure wishes to receive a briefing from the Foreign Office, we provide those briefings. I would like to underline that he is not visiting Afghanistan as an emissary of the Government of Pakistan and he is there in his individual capacity.
 
Shaukat Piracha, AAJ News:​ Reports also suggested from Kabul quoting Maulana Fazal-ur-Rahman that he will try to resume the dialogue between the government of Pakistan the state of Pakistan and the TTP. Whether such a proposal was discussed before his departure to Kabul when he had a briefing with the senior officials?
 
Spokesperson: So first, regarding the visit of Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman and I would like to exhaust all questions about this visit before I respond to your other question. As I said earlier, Maulana Fazal-ur-Rahman is visiting Afghanistan on a private visit. It is not sponsored by the Government of Pakistan. As far as Pakistan's position with respect to dialogue with TTP is concerned, we have articulated our position several times and reiterated in this forum and gathering on many occasions. Our position hasn't changed. Pakistan is not interested in dialogue with TTP. We have no dialogue taking place, nor do we intend to have a dialogue with TTP, which is responsible for several terrorist incidents inside Pakistan and is responsible for killing of Pakistani civilians and law enforcement officials. Our demands from the Afghan authorities haven't changed, they remain the same, which is that the Afghan authorities should take action, effective action against terrorist elements inside Afghanistan, including TTP leadership, and ensure that the hideouts and sanctuaries inside Afghanistan for these terrorist groups are eliminated and those responsible for terrorist incidents in Pakistan are handed over to Pakistan.
 
Siyar Ali Shah, Khyber News: Maulana is the only Pakistani leader who met Taliban’s Amir Abdullah in Kandahar, and he also expressed some concerns and made some commitments. Afghan side also conveyed their concerns. As you said that this is a private visit, if Maulana makes any commitment will Pakistan fulfill that commitment with Afghan Taliban of Afghan government?
 
Adeel Bashir, Roze News: Ma’am you have said that Pakistan did not sponsor Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman’s visit but on the other side some people from Ministry of Foreign Affairs, briefed Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman and there is a record on air. Does Pakistan see this as a back-door diplomacy?
 
Spokesperson: Yes, so it's not just the media that said that this briefing took place. I just shared with you that such a briefing did take place. This is in normal practice whenever a public figure visits a foreign country, they request such briefings from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and we do give briefings on Pakistan's policy with the country where they are visiting and that was the case in this situation as well. With respect to your question, as I said, this is a private visit. This is not sponsored by the Government of Pakistan. So, we are not in a position to comment on the substance of those meetings which may have taken place in Afghanistan. Once Mr. Fazal-Ur-Rahman comes back and if we are briefed on those meetings, only then we would be able to comment on the substance of such meetings.
 
Khawaja Nayyar Iqbal, Media Today: Is there any advancement in Pakistan regarding a recent visit of Afghan delegation led by Haji Mullah Shirin to Pakistan as there has been no reduction in terrorist activities in Pakistan.
 
Spokesperson: I would like to reiterate what I've said in the past. Pakistan believes in diplomacy and dialogue, even with countries with which we have differences. And with Afghanistan, we have many areas of convergences and many areas of common interest. We of course, have some issues, especially with respect to the threat of terrorism that Pakistan is facing. However, Pakistan has said time and again we will continue to maintain dialogue with Afghanistan. And that is why we have been continuing to receive official delegations from Afghanistan. And if you would recall, earlier we had the visit of the Afghan Minister for Commerce, when we discussed matters relating to trade, including transit trade. Recently, the visit of the Governor of Kandahar took place in the context of JCC, which is a regular consultation mechanism between Pakistan and Afghanistan, where border issues are discussed and we are encouraged with the discussions that took place during that visit.
 
Faiz Ahmed, AFP: I wanted to know if the Ministry of Foreign Affairs advised Maulana Fazal-Ur-Rahman to go to Afghanistan or not. And secondly, when he comes back will Ministry of Foreign Affairs want a briefing from him about what happened over there?
 
Spokesperson: As I said earlier, this visit was not sponsored or advised by Pakistan Foreign Office or the Government of Pakistan. This is a private visit and after the visit, we will like to hear from Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman about the nature of his talks, but as I said, he is not an emissary of the Government of Pakistan and he is there in his individual private capacity.
 
Joe Stenson, AFP: Did you ask him not to go?
 
Spokesperson: We did not give any advice again because it's a private visit. I would like to underline that Pakistan and Afghanistan are neighbours and we have always encouraged people-to-people contacts between Pakistan and Afghanistan. So private individuals, when they are invited or they have family visits, they travel to Afghanistan.
 
Shaukat Piracha, AAJ News: There has been a diplomatic spat between India and Maldives on the issue of certain islands for tourism. What is the reaction or understanding in Pakistan because the two countries fall in the same region. And secondly, the Maldivian President Muizzu, he was in China and they have enhanced their strategic partnership, since Pakistan enjoys good relations with both the countries whether Pakistan welcome such a development?
 
Spokesperson: Pakistan as you know, prefers not to comment on bilateral relations or differences between two sovereign countries. Maldives is a sovereign state and can decide its own foreign policy and make decisions about its engagements with countries in the region. We have always welcomed cooperation and dialogue within the region and we hope that dialogue between countries in the region will increase so that there is peace and cooperation in South Asia.
 
Syed Asif Ali, Din News: Ma’am, as you have just said Pakistan is not and will not get involved in any kind of talks with Pakistan Tehreek e Taliban and we urge Afghan government that if there are any such elements hand them over to Pakistan. So, is Pakistan at war with Pakistan Tehreek e Taliban just like operation Raah-e-Raast and operation Raah-e-Nijaat was done? And will this operation be continued till the end of this Tehreek?
 
Spokesperson: With respect to law enforcement matters and security related questions I would advise you to contact the Ministry of Interior because they are the relevant Ministry to give you clear advice on the nature of the threat that we face from TTP and Pakistan's strong commitment to fight all terror groups including TTP.
 
Siyar Ali Shah, Khyber News: Ma’am, Pakistanis easily get work permit from Dubai but they are not being issued visas from Dubai and this issue is only being faced by Pakistani nationals as other nationals are getting visas from UAE easily. Please comment on it.
 
Spokesperson: I would like to get more details because I'm not clearly in picture about the visa situation with respect to the UAE. But generally speaking, the decision to issue visas is a sovereign decision of the country concerned and Pakistan remains engaged with all countries in the Middle East, including the UAE with respect to the facilitation of Pakistanis who travel to these countries and for issuance of their work permits and their stay during the course of their work.
 
Anwar Abbas, Bol News: Ma’am, I would like to know that Pakistan and Iran both have concerns regarding Afghanistan. In a recent visit of Hussein Qasmi, he met with Abdul Kabir from Afghan Taliban interim government and during that meeting, he assured Afghans that Iran will not support opposition there. In return the Afghan government assured Iranian representative that they will never let Afghan soil to be used against any other country. So, do you think that Pakistan and Iran are on the same page on Afghanistan?
 
Spokesperson: On the issue of terrorism, if you have seen our statement issued last week, Pakistan has condemned the terrorist attack that took place in Kerman Iran, and we have expressed our complete solidarity with the people of Iran as they face this terrorist threat. Pakistan has said that terrorism is a threat that requires regional cooperation and for that we would continue to work with our neighbour, Iran and of course also with Afghanistan to ensure that terrorism is not a threat to Pakistan, or to Afghanistan or to Iran.
 
Mateen Haider, G News: Recently there was an interview by former Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria. He has also written a book in which he has disclosed information related to 2019 Air Force action between Pakistan and India, particularly Pakistan's response to a day earlier Indian attack on Pakistani territory. And Mr. Ajay Bisaria also said that India refused to accept a call at that time by the then Pakistani Prime Minister. It was also reported India was about to fire six missiles to Pakistan. Your comments please on these disclosures?
 
Spokesperson: First of all, we have not seen or read Mr. Bisaria’s book. We have seen some media reports and some interesting commentary on the book. It appears that the book seeks to advance India's fictitious narratives around the developments of February 2019 and the usual chest thumping that Indian officials have adopted as their default narrative. It is a matter of common knowledge that the ruling dispensation in India used the Pulwama episode for domestic political gains. As the next Lok Sabha elections draw closer, it is not surprising that a Pakistan bashing, jingoistic and militaristic narrative is now being unleashed in India. Mr. Bisaria knows very well, that Balakot was a military fiasco for India. It was an instance of Indian adventurism that went badly and embarrassingly wrong for them as Indian aircrafts were shot down, and an Indian pilot was taken prisoner by Pakistan. And despite India's adventurism and reckless escalatory measures, Pakistan behaved responsibly to de-escalate the situation while demonstrating its capacity to respond whenever its security is threatened. It is also very shocking that a professional diplomat is advocating coercion and use of force as a means to conduct diplomacy. This reflects the rise of a fascist mindset in India. It also demonstrates that India is not ready to assume the important responsibilities that it so desires on the global stage.
 
Khawaja Nayyar Iqbal, Media Today: Regarding visa policy between Pakistan and India, Pakistan, always open heartedly provide visas to Sikh and Hindu Pilgrims but after 2017, pilgrims and visitors from Pakistan who want to visit India including in Indian Punjab are not given visas by India. What are your comments on this?
 
Spokesperson: I do not have details about the specific visa cases that you have referred to. As you know Pakistan and India have a very special situation as far as visas are concerned. And it is unfortunate that India adopted a restrictive approach in terms of visas for Pakistani journalists and Pakistani spectators for the World Cup which was not an Indian event but an international event sponsored by ICC. So that is something which is very unfortunate. We expect India to ensure that individuals who are interested in traveling to India for important events should not be denied visas, as was the case in the ICC World Cup.
 
Abdullah Mohmand, Dawn TV: Masood Rehman Usmani, who is a former commander of Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan has been killed. It is being said by the security circles that there is Iranian involvement and sectarian situation is deteriorating. Secondly, has the sentence for Indian fishermen been extended for five years? How true is it? 
 
Spokesperson: I think on both these questions, it is the Ministry of Interior that can share with you the details because for any terror incident that takes place in Pakistan, its initial investigations are done by the local police and law enforcement officials. The Ministry of Interior would have details about these terror incidents and they can also identify who is behind such terrorist incidents. With respect to the second question, the number of years for sentence of illegal entry of a foreigner into Pakistan is determined by Pakistani laws and it is the prerogative of the local court to decide the length of the sentence. So, it is not up to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to advise the courts on the length of sentence being awarded to Indian fishermen when they enter illegally in Pakistan.
 
Thank you.