Foreign Office has clarified that it did not arrange the foreign diplomats’ trip to Malam Jabba in Swat Valley which was targeted by terrorists a few days ago, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Addressing her weekly news briefing in Islamabad on Thursday, Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said the visit was arranged by Islamabad Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) which did not inform the Foreign Office. “This trip was neither arranged by the Foreign Office nor by the government of Pakistan,” she asserted.

The spokesperson said the government is committed to provide security to any foreign diplomat in Pakistan and the Foreign Office has on many occasions advised the foreign diplomats to follow the set guidelines.

Replying to a question, she said the Foreign Office is reviewing the incident and considering initiation action against the ICCI. “It comes to surface during an internal inquiry that the Foreign Office completed all its protocols for which there was evidence,” she added.

The spokesperson, however, admitted that some envoys did inform the foreign ministry individually after which the ministry wrote a letter to the government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in this regard.

The Foreign Office spokesperson strongly condemned Israel’s recent military aggression against Lebanon, calling it a grave violation of international law and the UN Charter, reaffirming Pakistan's support for Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Mumtaz 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.

Reporter Anwar Abbas