No plan to engage in talks with TTP, says Pakistan

Pakistan has stated that there were no plans to engage in any talks with the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), urging the Afghan authorities to take robust action against terror groups operating from Afghan soil, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Addressing her weekly media briefing in Islamabad on Thursday, Foreign Office spokeswoman Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said the presence of terror groups including the TTP in Afghanistan is confirmed by multiple international reports including the United Nations. “We expect the Afghan authorities to take robust action against these terror groups and prevent their activities that endanger Pakistan's security,” she added. 

Mumtaz Baloch also confirmed that invitations have been extended to all heads of government of SCO member countries including the Prime Minister of India for the forthcoming meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of Shanghai Cooperation Organization. “We have also received some confirmations,” she said and added this meeting is scheduled to take place in Islamabad on the 15th to 16th of October.

Responding to a question, Mumtaz Baloch said Pakistan does not have trade relations with India. She said Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally recognized disputed territory. She said the United Nations Security Council resolutions clearly state that the final disposition of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute shall be made in accordance with the will of the people through a UN-supervised plebiscite.

In this backdrop, she said that any other process cannot serve as a substitute to the grant of the right of self-determination to the Kashmiri people.

The spokesperson told the media that the third death anniversary of iconic Kashmiri leader Syed Ali Geelani would be observed on September 1, and remembered him as the true voice of the Kashmir struggle for self-determination.

Paying rich tribute to Kashmir leader late Syed Ali Geelani’s struggle for Kashmiri’s right to self-determination, the spokesperson reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to political, diplomatic, and moral support to Kashmiris for a just and peaceful settlement of the Kashmir dispute as per UNSC resolutions.

When asked about China Pakistan Economic Corridor, the spokesperson said it is a transformational project that has contributed positively and transparently to Pakistan's national development. She said the corridor project enjoys support and popularity in all provinces and across the political divide in Pakistan.

She clarified that Pakistan's total public debt relating to CPEC projects is a small percentage of its total debt. Moreover, she said, the public debt obtained from China has longer maturity periods with low interest rates.

The spokesperson reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to provide full security to all Chinese nationals, projects and institutions.

Mumtaz Baloch also reiterated its call for the UN Security Council to take immediate measures to stop the genocide of Palestinian people, end Israel’s blatant violations of international laws and the UN Charter, and hold it accountable for war crimes. She expressed grave concerns over the recent large-scale military incursion by Israeli forces in the northern part of the Occupied West Bank. This attack is another blatant violation of international law, including the 4th Geneva Convention, which prohibits indiscriminate targeting of civilians, she added.

She said that the repeated Israeli transgressions and the use of force, including airstrikes and drone attacks on populated areas was a blatant violation of the international humanitarian laws.

The spokesperson reiterated Pakistan’s strong condemnation of the bombing of the historic Grand Mosque in Khan Younis by Israeli forces, and said the assault on a place of deep cultural and religious significance was a clear violation of international laws and the Hague Convention.

Highlighting the diplomatic engagements during the last week, she mentioned Foreign Secretary Muhammad Syrus Sajjad Qazi’s visit to Cameroon where he was leading a Pakistani delegation at the 50th session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers.

At the CFM, he will share Pakistan’s perspective on genocide in Gaza, dire humanitarian situation and Israeli adventurism in the region threatening regional peace. He will also highlight the Indian atrocities in IIOJK, the issues of Islamophobia and climate change.

Spokesperson Baloch said that 8th session of Pakistan-Oman Bilateral Political Consultations (BPC) was held in Muscat earlier this week wherein two sides reviewed all aspects of bilateral cooperation including political relations, trade and investment, security and defense, culture, health, and consular matters.

Besides, she said Speaker of the National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq led a parliamentary delegation on an official visit to Belarus at the invitation of the Chairman of the House of Representatives of Belarus. In Minsk, he met with the President, Chairman of the House of Representatives, Chairperson of the Council of the Republic of Belarus, and Minister for Agriculture.

The two sides affirmed their commitment to expand bilateral relations and enhance parliamentary exchanges and cooperation across various sectors including agriculture, industry, education, and culture with a focus on increasing bilateral trade.

Reporter Anwar Abass