Assalam-o-Alaikum,

Welcome to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif is in New York to attend the High-level segment for the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

The Prime Minister attended the event “SDG Moment” organized by United Nations on Sustainable Development Goals where he called for support to developing countries in escaping debt traps exacerbated by climate change-related disasters and an unfair global financial system.

The Prime Minister also attended the “High-Level Meeting on Existential Threat posed by Sea-level Rise,” and the UN Security Council's Open Debate on “Leadership for Peace” yesterday.

In a statement on "Leadership for peace" during the High-Level Open Debate in the UN Security Council, the Prime Minister underlined that proliferating wars – in the Middle East, Europe, and elsewhere – great power tensions, and growing poverty – are threatening the foundations of world order. He proposed actions to address global challenges and strengthen peace and security in the world. Pakistan will pursue these objectives in the Security Council when it assumes its seat in the Council next year.

On the sidelines of the UNGA Session, the Prime Minister has held bilateral meetings with the President of Maldives Dr. Muizzu; President of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan; President of Iran Masoud Pazeshkian; President of the State of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas; Crown Prince of the State of Kuwait, His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah; and the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres.  

The Prime Minister will address the UN General Assembly tomorrow.

Pakistan remains concerned about the security situation in the Middle East owing to Israel’s expanding adventurism and disregard of international law. Last week’s military aggression against Lebanon is a grave violation of the UN Charter and international law. This dangerous escalation has further endangered peace and security in an already volatile region. Pakistan reaffirms its unwavering support for Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

For almost a year now, Israeli occupation forces have been involved in a systematic genocidal campaign in Gaza and engaged in grave violations of international humanitarian law.

This week Israel sent a container of decomposing bodies of 88 Palestinians to Gaza without sharing any information about the identities of the victims and the time and manner of their deaths. This inexcusably barbaric act violates international humanitarian law, which require the respectful handling and identification of the deceased. By withholding the names and gender of the deceased, the Israeli occupation forces have denied the victims their dignity and compounded the suffering of their families. No family should be denied the right to bury their loved ones with dignity. Israel must disclose the identities of the deceased and ensure dignified return of the mortal remains to their families.

We call upon the international community to take immediate action to hold Israel accountable for its acts of international terrorism and its war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The Contact Group of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Jammu and Kashmir met yesterday on the sidelines of the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Chaired by OIC Secretary General, Hissein Brahim Taha, the meeting was attended by the representatives of the member states of the Contact Group which include Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Niger and Azerbaijan. A delegation of the True Representatives of the Kashmiri People also participated.

Defence Minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif who led the Pakistan delegation to the meeting, briefed the Contact Group on the political, security and human rights situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).  

Member states of the Contact Group emphasized the importance of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute on the OIC’s agenda and expressed support for the Kashmiri people and their rights and freedoms. They called for an early, peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.

The meeting concluded with the adoption of a comprehensive Joint Communiqué, reaffirming the OIC’s consistent support for the legitimate struggle of the Kashmiri people for realization of their inalienable right to self-determination in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. The Communique also condemned the banning of a number of Kashmiri political parties and the ongoing campaign to confiscate the properties of the Kashmiri activists. It underscored the so-called election exercises in IIOJK cannot serve as a substitute to the exercise of the right to self determination.

The Contact Group also called upon India to halt the human rights violations in the IIOJK and take steps for the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant UNSC resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people.

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.

I thank you all!

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(Azaz Syed, Geo News): Ma’am, Türkiye has addressed the UNGA session recently in New York. Türkiye has talked about the Kashmir issue during its four previous visits to the UNGA but this time Kashmir was not mentioned. Is it the failure of Pakistan’s foreign policy or has India approached Türkiye?

Spokesperson: Türkiye has a consistent and principled position on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. The Turkish leadership and diplomats have expressed support for the right of self-determination of the Kashmiri people at multiple forums, including at the OIC. Türkiye is also an active member of the OIC contact group on Jammu and Kashmir. If you see the joint communiqué of the Contact Group which met last night, Türkiye joined the consensus on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir and reaffirmed its strong support for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Therefore, we should not draw any undue inferences from one statement.

(Abdul Hadi Mayar, Hum Pashto 1 News): Regional connectivity and trade remain the central point whenever Pakistan holds talks with Central Asian republics, Russia and Belarus, but it is evident that none of such projects can materialize without peace and stability in Afghanistan. Isn't there any need for all these countries to evolve a regional and geo economic approach to the situation in Afghanistan.

Spokesperson: Pakistan, like all neighbouring and near neighbouring countries of Afghanistan, is concerned about peace and security in Afghanistan. We are working with the neighbouring countries of Afghanistan. There are several forums of which Pakistan is a member, including the neighbouringcountries format, where all these countries discuss and debate various options to engage with Afghanistan; to ensure that Afghanistan territory is not a threat to the security of its neighbours; and to facilitate the people of Afghanistan, so that there is peace and prosperity in Afghanistan; so that these connectivity projects see light of the day.

(Khawaja Nayyar Iqbal, Media Today): World’s two biggest issues, Indian occupation on Jammu and Kashmir and Israeli atrocities in Gaza. Resolutions on them exist in United Nations Security council but none of the international level conferences were successful. What are the hopes of Pakistan regarding the same from the ongoing session of UNGA?

Spokesperson: We have already issued a curtain raiser on the visit of the Prime Minister to New York for the UN General Assembly. Pakistan will strongly raise its voice on issues of international concern including the question of Palestine and the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. This will be highlighted in the statement that the Prime Minister of Pakistan will deliver tomorrow at UN General Assembly. This is part of Pakistan's conversations with world leaders which are taking place in New York. Jammu and Kashmir was the topic of discussion for the OIC in the format of OIC contact group held yesterday. We will continue to highlight the importance of the just resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute for lasting peace and stability in South Asia. We have called on the United Nations to use its good offices for implementation of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir and for ensuring the right to self- determination of the Kashmiri people.

(Shaukat Piracha, AAJ News): My question is regarding a statement made by Pakistan Permanent Representative to the United Nations in an interview with voice of America. I really wonder whether such a statement was authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Government of Pakistan, when he says that the world must engage with Afghan Taliban government. Would not the international community laugh at this when Pakistan is maintaining a red line on the issue of TTP sanctuaries being given by the Afghan Taliban government? Why are we advocating that the world should engage with them. Is there a balance between our red lines and urging the world to engage with Taliban government?

Spokesperson: I think this issue should be looked at in its right perspective. Pakistan has repeatedly said that we are deeply concerned for the welfare of the people of Afghanistan. It is important for Pakistan and for the international community to facilitate Afghanistan in providing economic opportunities to the people of Afghanistan and for creating conditions for peace and prosperity. These conditions are important from Pakistan's perspective, because it is a neighbouring country, and, more importantly, because Pakistan wishes the early and honourable return of Afghan refugees who continue to stay in Pakistan. We believe that peace, security and prosperity in Afghanistan will facilitate this process. And it is in this regard, that we engage with the Afghan authorities, and encourage the United Nations and other international bodies to facilitate the people of Afghanistan. Secondly, with regards to the use of Afghan soil against Pakistan, our position is very clear. Pakistan has taken up thisconcern, not just bilaterally with Afghanistan, but also with the international community, including at the United Nations, where we have highlighted that the Afghan territory is being used by terror elements against Pakistan. It is important that the Afghan authorities take action against the hideouts and sanctuaries that continue to be present in Afghanistan and threaten Pakistan's security and indeed the security of all neighbours of Afghanistan.

(Afzal Reza, IRNA): My question is regarding the yesterday's meeting between President Pezeshkian and Prime Minister Sharif in New York yesterday. So, how you see the agreement reached in this meeting, that the both leaders agreed to formation of a joint working group for the expansion of the bilateral economic cooperation, specifically and especially to deal with the issue of the Pakistan-Iran Gas Pipeline. In the samemeeting, President Pezeshkian also shared his idea regarding the creation of a wide range road and railway communication network between regional countries facilitate to people-to-people contacts. So how does Pakistan see this?

Spokesperson: Pakistan and Iran are close neighbours.We have several channels of communications between our two countries. The engagement at the leadership level is a reflection of the importance both countries accord to high level engagement and dialogue between Pakistan and Iran. We believe that with engagement and dialogue at the highest levels our two countries can work together for the mutual benefit of our two peoples and find common ground on economic and trade matters and find solutions to any issues that may arise from time to time. With regards to yesterday's meeting between the two leaders, I do not have the full picture of the discussions that took place overnight. I can underline, however, that Pakistan remains committed to dialogue with its brotherly country of Iran. We are ready to work with Iran in exploring various projects of dialogue and cooperation in the economic sphere.

(Jiang Chao, Xinhua News Agency): I have two questions. We know that a summit of council of Headsof Governments of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states will be held next month. What is Pakistan's vision and expectation for all parties to implement the resolutions of the SCO Astana Summit in the upcoming summit?

Spokesperson: The Council of the Heads of Government meeting of the SCO member states, is the second highest forum of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and deals with economic, social, cultural and financial matters. Its focus is on strengthening and enhancing cooperation in spheres of trade and economic cooperation, connectivity and transport links and investment in key sectors. Subjects pertaining to economy, trade finance, investment, trade facilitation and economic collaboration, as mentioned in the Astana declaration, will be further elaborated in the Council of Heads of Government meeting to be held in Islamabad.

(Mateen Haider, GTV News): It's again related to Shanghai Cooperation Council of Heads of Government Summit. So far, how many confirmations have been received by Pakistan? How many heads of government would be attending this conference and also share updates that who will be attending from India?

Spokesperson: We will be making announcements with regards to the participation of various delegations at a later date.

(Jiang Chao, Xinhua News Agency): Still about SCO. We know that the Belt and Road initiative was written into the Astana declaration issued after the Astana summit of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO, stating that countries, including Pakistan, support the China’s proposed BRI. So how do you view the connection between the SCO and the Belt and Road Initiative?

Spokesperson: Pakistan has been supporting initiatives of SCO that foster connectivity and establish newer linkages amongst member states. SCO is perfectly placed to erect newer transport and road linkages, which strengthen interconnectivity amongst its members. Pakistan fully supports the Belt and Road Initiative, which is also an important connectivity project for the region and Pakistan is part of the flagship project of BRI, the China Pakistan Economic Corridor that we think is critical for Pakistan's economic prosperity and development.

(Abdullah Momand,Dawn News): Pakistan, in a recent development, has offered scholarships to the Bangladesh students and in this regard, the Pakistani High Commissioner in Bangladesh Syed Ahmed Maroof held two meetings with the Bangladesh authorities. So is it a part of new diplomacy following the departure of Hasina Wajid?

Spokesperson: Pakistan and Bangladesh have a long history of collaboration in educational, scientific and people to people domains. There have been several scholarships offered to Bangladesh in the past, and many Bangladeshi students have come to Pakistan for education. These offers have always remained on the table, and we look forward to welcoming Bangladeshi students to Pakistan on educational scholarship in the future as well.

(Saqib Ali Rathore, Daily Kashmir Times):Kashmiri people, whenever inadvertently end up crossing the LOC are labeled and presented by India as terrorist. What are foreign office’s comments on this because a man crossed the LOC, who was mentally unfit, India declared him a terrorist. I had already raised a question on this issue but have not gotten the answer yet.

Spokesperson: I do not have the details of the exact case that you're referring to. However, we have been raising these issues with the Indian authorities that individuals who cross over mistakenly across the border must be dealt in a humane manner. In the past, Pakistan has also released individuals from India who crossed over mistakenly. We expect India to take a humane view of such cases.

(ShabirWahgra, PTV World): Ma'am, after last week terrorist attack on diplomats in KP, like in Malam Jabba, is there any new SOPs, or measures suggested by foreign office to the organizations, provincial governments and relevant authorities who are inviting such high profile dignitaries, especially diplomats in such areas so that these incidents could be avoided?

Supplementary: (Naveed Siddique, Daily Dateline)Ma'am, that was such a high-profile visit, but why protocol and security was not given to them?

Supplementary: (Mateen Haider, GTV News) Hasany investigation been carried out by the local police, and that has been shared with the Foreign Office? Which Group exactly was involved in carrying out this IED attack? If the investigation was shared with the foreign ministry, has that been shared with the honorable Ambassadors who were on that particular visit?

Supplementary: (Abdullah Momand , Dawn News)Foreign Office was quoted by an Urdu newspaper in which they claimed that the Foreign Office has shared that the province was informed prior to this visit. Following this attack, on the second day, Ministry of Foreign Affairs reportedly invited the Ambassador of 11 or 12 countries in which they gave them a surety that they will investigate this matter and will punish the culprit. Is this true?

Supplementary: (Anwar Abbass, 24 News) Governor KP, Faisal Kareem Kundi has once again invited foreign diplomats to Peshawar? Will you give any recommendation or suggestion if they should go again or not?

Spokesperson: Starting with your last question, Pakistan is committed to providing full security to any diplomat who is in Pakistan. We are committed to making their stay in Pakistan as comfortable and as secure as possible. In that respect, we encourage foreign diplomats to explore Pakistan and to follow the guidelines that have been shared with them on several occasions with regards to their travel to any part of Pakistan.

Pakistan has condemned that incident of 23rd of September and our security agencies are investigating.When there is substantial information, it will be appropriately released.

With regards to this particular incident of 23rd of September, this was a trip which was organized by the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and not by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or any government institution. We have taken serious note of the lapses which were made by the concerned individuals, including their failure to inform the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of organizing such a high profile visit.We are also in the process of developing guidelines to ensure that such incidents do not happen again. The Deputy Prime Minister, you are right, has met with the Ambassadors and Heads of Missions of the countries involved. He has assured them that Pakistan will fully investigate this incident and institute procedures to ensure their full safety.

With regards to the travel of any diplomat to the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhawa, there are procedures in place. We have undertaken internal investigation, and have come to the conclusion that as far as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is concerned, all protocols were followed. That includes information regarding the travel of Ambassadors who contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs individually regarding their travel to the KP province. This information was shared with the KP government in writing, and we have documentary evidence for that.

(Shaukat Piracha, AAJ News): A little clarification about the previous comment. Sorry, maybe we were not fully attentive as we are writing the tickers. Which documented evidence was shared with the KP government?

Spokesperson: Some Ambassadors individually approached the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, informing us of their travel as has been their practice. This information was shared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the KP government. As for the event, which was organized by the Chamber of Commerce, the details of the event were not shared by the Chamber of Commerce with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. So, the fact that there would be so many Ambassadors traveling together for a particular event not shared with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We are in the process of discussions and internal deliberations on how to rectify what has happened and how to fix this for the future.

(Shaukat Piracha, AAJ News): And my question about the programme of the Prime Minister in New York. He has met the leaders from South Asia. I mean, he's met with Chief Advisor of Bangladesh, he also met with the Maldives President. He will also be meeting with the Nepalese Prime Minister. South Asian Cooperation Organization, SAARC, is not functional. India has its own sub regional organization, BIMSTEC. Did Prime Minister in these meetings discuss any proposal for revival of SAARC?

Spokesperson: I would reiterate what I said in response to the question regarding Prime Minister’s meeting with the President of Iran, I do not have the full readout of what transpired in these meetings, apart from the press statements, which have been issued by the Prime Minister's Office. We can discuss further details at a later date.

(Anwar Abbass, 24 News): Ma’am, Kurram Agency is facing violence since long and now for two months. 20-25 deaths have been reported and 40-45 people are injured. Pakistan fenced the Pakistan-Afghanistanborder costing billions of rupees. What is the reason that the fence is easily breached every time, and when militants especially TTP cross the border and targetPakistani civilians?

Spokesperson: This is an operational matter. I think ISPR would be in a better position to respond to this question.

Thank you!

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