- Stresses UN Security Council must act, fulfill responsibility of upholding peace in Gaza
- Asserts repatriation plan targets only migrants living in Pakistan without documentation
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday underscored its longstanding concerns about the Indian sabotage network and espionage activities, saying arrest of Indian spies recently in Qatar bore testimony to the New Delhi’s involvement in espionage and sabotage networks operating in various countries, especially in Middle East and other regions.
At the weekly press briefing on Thursday, Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch noted that reports of death sentences handed down to Indian Navy officers in Qatar would have sent shockwaves through India’s Ministry of External Affairs.
The foreign office spokesperson pointed to the 2016 arrest of Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, a senior Indian Navy officer, on charges of sabotage and espionage within Pakistan, as a significant example of such activities.
Qatar’s recent court verdict sentenced eight former Indian Navy officials to death for serious espionage charges, accusing them of spying for Israel and working for the Indian intelligence agency, RAW. They were reportedly caught carrying out espionage activities in Qatar, providing Israel with details of Qatar’s secret programme to purchase advanced submarines from Italy.
“This episode also shows India’s reckless and irresponsible conduct in clear violation of international law and the UN principle of state sovereignty”, she pointed out, adding it calls into question India’s reliability as a credible partner.
‘UNSC must act for peace in Gaza’
Expressing concerns over the dire situation in Gaza, the FO spokesperson Baloch stated that UN Security Council must act and fulfill its responsibility of upholding peace. She said the world body must call for lifting the siege, protecting civilians and facilitating humanitarian corridors for provision of uninterrupted essential supplies to the beleaguered people of Gaza.
“World body must call for lifting the siege, protecting civilians and facilitating humanitarian corridors for provision of uninterrupted essential supplies to the beleaguered people of Gaza” she reiterated.
Baloch also strongly condemned the ongoing Israeli military actions in Gaza, referring to them as intolerable and tantamount to war crimes. Baloch urged the international community to intervene and halt the ongoing genocide in occupied Palestine, emphasising the need for the United Nations to advocate for an end to the siege, cessation of bombing, and the opening of humanitarian corridors.
‘Illegal foreigners’ repatriation plan’
Alluding to the illegal foreigners’ repatriation plan, the foreign office spokesperson said this applies to all foreigners residing illegally in Pakistan irrespective of their nationality and country of origin. She said this process will continue in an orderly and phased manner. She said this decision is in exercise of Pakistan’s sovereign domestic laws and compliant with applicable international norms and principles.
She clarified that the repatriation plan specifically targets migrants living in Pakistan without proper documentation and does not encompass refugees.
The interior ministry is investigating reports of alleged mistreatment of Afghan nationals, she added.
The FO spokesperson shared that the interior ministry is addressing the issue of 12,000 counterfeit passports recovered in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabian authorities recently disclosed the recovery of over 12,000 Pakistani passports from Afghan nationals, allegedly procured through multiple passport centers operating within Pakistan. The Ministry of Interior has constituted a high-level committee to scrutinise the matter.
‘India continues human rights violations in IIOJK’
As regards the situation in Indian illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), the spokesperson said Indian occupation forces continue to commit human rights violations in the occupied territory. She said that seventeen Kashmiris were killed and ten others wounded in the month of October. She said the international community must urge India to bring an end to its occupation and implement the UNSC resolutions that recognize the right of self-determination of the people of Kashmir.
She said Pakistan will continue to extend political, diplomatic and moral support to Kashmiris for the just and peaceful settlement of Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
‘PM’s to attend ECP Summit’
Responding a question, he stated that Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar will embark on an official visit to Tashkent, Uzbekistan to participate in the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Summit commencing on Wednesday next.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said the Prime Minister, at the summit, will reaffirm Pakistan’s commitment to ECO vision 2025 and promotion of cooperation in the areas of trade, transport, connectivity, energy, tourism and economic growth and productivity.
The Prime Minister will present Pakistan’s vision for the future work of the organization and promotion of regional connectivity and mutual prosperity.
The Prime Minister will also engage in bilateral discussions with the leadership of Uzbekistan and other participating leaders.
