Pakistan resolves to punish Majeed Brigade involved in Karachi attack

Describing the incident of terrorism near Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport as an attack on Pakistan-China friendship, the Foreign Office (FO) said on Monday that Pakistan and China would jointly work to bring perpetrators of the crime to justice, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Giving a briefing to the media, FO spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that the government would not spare all those responsible for the gruesome attack, including the Majeed Brigade.

“We express our sympathies and offer condolences to the families of those, including two Chinese engineers, who lost their lives in the incident. We also pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” she said, and added, “The country’s security and law-enforcement agencies will leave no stone unturned to take not only the terrorists to the task but also their facilitators.”

“The Foreign Office is in constant touch with the Chinese embassy in Pakistan.”

Mumtaz said that both Pakistan and China are time-tested friends and their friendship is as firm as a rock. “Pakistan renews its unwavering commitment to provide security to the Chinese nationals working on different projects,” she said.  

The FO spokesperson strongly condemned the heinous terrorist attack near Karachi airport took place on Sunday night killing two Chinese engineers and injuring another, and assured to bring the perpetrators to justice. “This deplorable act of terrorism is an attack not only on Pakistan but also on the enduring friendship between Pakistan and China…We remain resolute in bringing to justice those responsible for this cowardly attack, including the Majeed Brigade,” she added.

She said that Pakistan’s security and law enforcement agencies would spare no effort in apprehending the perpetrators and their facilitators. “This barbaric act will not go unpunished,” she assured.

The spokesperson extended deepest condolences and sympathies to the families of the victims, both Chinese and Pakistani, and prayed for the swift recovery of the injured. She said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was in close contact with the Chinese Embassy for coordination and facilitation.

She said that Pakistan and China were close partners and iron-brothers, united by a bond of mutual respect and shared destiny. “Pakistan reaffirms it’s unwavering commitment to the safety and security of Chinese nationals, projects, and institutions in Pakistan, and will continue to work hand in hand with our Chinese brothers to defeat the forces of terror,” the spokesperson reiterated.

Pakistan condemns Hindu priest’s blasphemous remarks

Pakistan has strongly condemned the provocative and sacrilegious remarks regarding Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) made by a Hindu priest Yati Narsinghan.

Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said the remarks have gravely hurt the feelings of the people of Pakistan and Muslims around the world.

The spokesperson urged the Indian authorities to hold the priest to account and take immediate action to curb the growing tide of religious intolerance and hate speech targeting Muslims in India.

Pakistan demands Gaza ceasefire

As a year of Israel’s barbarism in Palestine completes on Monday (October 7) marking the killing of around 42,000 Palestinians, overwhelmingly women and children, Pakistan urged the UN Security Council to act decisively to impose an immediate and permanent ceasefire and hold Israel accountable for its war crimes.

“The past year has seen Israel’s indiscriminate and horrifying attacks on civilian targets, including hospitals, schools, and shelters… We call upon the UN Security Council to act decisively and impose an immediate and permanent ceasefire, protecting the people of Gaza,” Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said.

Referring to the recent Israeli airstrikes on Khalifa Bin Zayed School in Northern Gaza, a mosque in Central Gaza, and a refugee camp, killing innocent civilians, including children and women, she said such attacks represented war crimes being committed by Israeli occupation forces.

She also reiterated the call for holding Israel accountable for its crimes and crimes against humanity.

SCO Summit

About the upcoming 23rd meeting of the Council of the Heads of Government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states being hosted by Pakistan on October 15-16, 2024, she said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would preside over the moot as the current Chair of the CHG. “We expect high-level participation from SCO members, the observer state of Mongolia, Turkmenistan as a special guest, and
representatives of international organizations including Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), Commonwealth of Independent States and the European Economic Community.

The CHG, the second highest decision-making body of SCO, will discuss cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, environment, and sociocultural linkages as well as reviewing the performance of the organization.

“Since becoming a member in 2017, Pakistan has worked consistently and constructively to strengthen good neighbourly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation among SCO member states. The hosting of CHG by Pakistan reflects the abiding commitment of Pakistan to the purposes and principles of the SCO Charter and the values of the Shanghai Spirit,” the spokesperson remarked.

Pakistan condemns extension of Indian ban on JKLF

Coming to the situation in Kashmir, she expressed concerns as a tribunal handling under the Unlawful Activities Act, had upheld the Indian home ministry’s decision to extend the ban on the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) as an unlawful association for an additional five years. She urged the Indian authorities to immediately release the incarcerated JKLF leader Yasin Malik and lift the ban on him and JKLF and other political parties, besides reiterating Pakistan’s continuous political, diplomatic, and moral support to the Kashmiri people.

Saudi delegation arrives on Oct 9

Spokesperson Baloch told the media that a high-level Saudi delegation, comprising representatives from a wide spectrum of government agencies and private sector entities, and led by Minister for Investment Engineer Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih would visit Pakistan from October 9-11, 2024, and meet with the president and the prime minister of Pakistan.

She said the visit aimed to lend positive impetus to enhance bilateral cooperation and mutually rewarding economic partnership.

Moscow parleys on Afghanistan

She told the media that the sixth meeting of the Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan, held in Moscow, also attended by Pakistan, expressed concern over the security situation in Afghanistan, noting the continued threat posed by terrorist and separatist groups to global and regional stability. The participants emphasised the need for Afghanistan to take measures to combat terror and prevent its territory from being used against neighbouring countries and the wider region.

Regarding the recent visit of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, she mentioned his interactions with Prime Minister Shehbaz, President Asif Ali Zardari and participation in the Malaysia-Pakistan High-Level Business Dialogue. Besides signing two MoUs on trade cooperation and telecommunication capacity building, both sides also discussed a wide range of bilateral, regional, and global issues of mutual interest.

Reporter: Anwar Abbas