Pakistan reaffirms Defence Pacts commitment amid Houthi attacks

ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan is committed in intent and spirit to implement the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement as well as the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.

Khan said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will lead Pakistan's delegation to the high-level segment of the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly in New York next week.

The Spokesperson said the Prime Minister will be accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, other federal ministers and senior officials.

He further said the Prime Minister, in his speech at the UN General Assembly, will highlight Pakistan's perspective on regional and global developments, reaffirming the importance of dialogue, diplomacy, restraint and peaceful resolution of disputes. He will outline Pakistan's priorities on sustainable development, climate change, counter-terrorism, Islamophobia, global economic challenges, UN reforms and issues confronting the global south, while drawing attention to the situations in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, as well as Palestine.

Sajjad Haider Khan said during the visit, the Prime Minister will participate in high-level events and hold bilateral meetings with world leaders and the UN Secretary General, highlighting Pakistan's commitment to multilateralism, the UN Charter, regional peace and international cooperation. 

Responding to a question, the spokesperson categorically rejected India's baseless and illegally untenable assertions concerning Pakistan-China Boundary Agreement of 1963 and Pakistan-China Boundary Joint Commission. He said China is not only our neighbour but an all-weather strategic cooperative partner. He said our ironclad friendship has withstood the test of times.

He said the 1963 agreement is a valid arrangement concluded between Pakistan and China. He said India's claims regarding Jammu and Kashmir is equally untenable as it remains an internationally recognised disputed territory whose final disposition is to be determined in accordance with the United Nations Security Council resolutions and aspirations of the Kashmiri people, which is to be done under the auspices of the UN through a plebiscite. He said it is a mockery of international law that India speaks of legality in an attempt to challenge the validity of Border Joint Commission.

Sajjad Haider Khan said India must carry out its own introspection, especially its illegal and unilateral decisions of 5th August, 2019. He said India must rescind these illegal decisions that were in utter violation of the UN Security Council resolutions. He said instead of advancing fictitious territorial claims, India should end its illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir and faithfully implement the UN Security Council resolutions. 

The spokesperson said Pakistan continues to closely follow the evolving situation in the Middle East in view of the continued Houthi attacks.

He said Pakistan remains concerned over the continuing escalation and its implications for regional peace, security, maritime navigation and global energy supplies. He said Pakistan continues to advocate dialogue and diplomacy as the only sustainable means of resolving differences and avoiding further escalation.

To a question, the spokesperson said Pakistan is committed in intent and spirit to implement Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement as well as the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.