Pakistan expresses concerns over security of Palestinians 

Islamabad: Pakistan has expressed its concerns over the security of Palestinian people, at the weekly news briefing in Islamabad today, Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said.

While commenting on the recent violence in the West Bank where eleven Palestinians people have been martyred by Israeli forces, the spokesperson said: “We condemn all acts that lead to the killing of innocent civilians including in occupied Palestinian territories”.

Zahra stated that Pakistan's position on Palestine is consistent. We support a comprehensive approach for resolution of Palestinian question.

“Pakistan has maintained that there should be a total withdrawal of Israel from the occupied Arab territories including Jerusalem,” said Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, adding that there should be restitution of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to exercise self-determination and sovereignty in an independent and viable State of Palestine on the basis of pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al Sharif as its capital.

She called for a just resolution to the plight of Palestinian refugees in accordance with the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution.

The spokesperson added: “Pakistan remains concerned at the ongoing human rights violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK)”.

She further said that Pakistan will continue to raise its voice against grave human rights violations in the occupied territory adding that, “We will also continue to extend political, diplomatic and moral support to our Kashmiri brothers and sisters for the just and peaceful settlement of Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UN Security Council Resolutions”.

When asked about the U.S. State Department Counselor Derek Chollet's recent statement regarding Pakistan-China relations, the spokesperson said Pakistan being a sovereign state exercises the right to choose its economic partners from around the globe on mutually beneficially basis.

Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said Pakistan considers China as an all-weather strategic cooperative partner. China has been a consistent, generous and steadfast friend that has stood by Pakistan for the last several decades, adding that “Pakistani nation is proud of its friendship with China which has always come to Pakistan's assistance when was needed”.

To a question, the spokesperson said Pakistan and Afghanistan have been discussing all aspects of cooperation to confront the terrorism that emanates from Kabul.

About Russia-Ukraine conflict, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said Pakistan believes that peace and dialogue are important in resolution of this conflict as well.

The spokesperson further added, Pakistan will host a one day conference on 'Women in Islam: Understanding the Rights and Identity of Women in the Islamic World' on the 8th of next month at the UN headquarters on the sidelines  of the 67th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women.