Islamabad wants good relations with Washington; no comments could be made on the statements issued by individuals: FO Spokesperson
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch says negotiations with American authorities will remain continue
Says the intelligence-based operation was conducted by Pakistan in Afghanistan’s border areas
Says Pakistan will continue to make all possible political & diplomatic efforts for the settlement of the J&K dispute
FO spokesperson reiterated that there were “threats posed by terrorist elements to Pakistan and its citizens”. “Pakistan is committed to the security of its public,” Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said.
ISLAMABAD ( WEB NEWS )
Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch has said that Pakistan is maintaining active communication with Afghan authorities and aims to enhance cooperation with Afghanistan in security, trade, and other areas. She said that Islamabad wants good relations with Washington, adding that no comments could be made on the statements issued by individuals. She said that negotiations with American authorities will remain continue.
While addressing the weekly press briefing on Thursday, FO Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that the year 2024, was an active year for Pakistan’s diplomacy. Our diplomatic efforts focused on enhancing Pakistan’s international profile and strengthening our relations with countries around the world.
High-level visits exchanged with Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, China, Egypt, Gambia, Iran, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Qatar, Russia, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye, the UAE, Uzbekistan and the United Kingdom helped develop important understandings with these countries.
She said that President Asif Ali Zardari visited Turkmenistan to attend the International Forum on “Interrelation of Times and Civilizations – Basis of Peace and Development” held in Ashgabat on 10-11 October 2024. The Prime Minister of Pakistan undertook visits to Azerbaijan, China, Egypt, Iran, Kazakhstan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and the UAE.
Deputy Prime Minister & Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar also undertook important visits to Azerbaijan, Belgium, Egypt, Gambia, Iran, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and the United Kingdom.
These visits afforded an important opportunity to enhance bilateral relations, promote important political understandings and strengthen trade and investment ties.
Pakistan also hosted a number of high-level dignitaries. Leadership level visits took place from Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, Iran, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mangolia, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan. Senior Cabinet Ministers of China, Saudi Arabia, Iran, India, Germany, Qatar, Russia and the United Kingdom visited Pakistan. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Secretary General CICA and the Secretaries General of SAARC, IMO and the Commonwealth also undertook visits to Pakistan during 2024.
This year, we witnessed major transformations and far-reaching developments in our region and around the world. Political changes in Africa, South Asia, Middle East, Europe, and East Asia meant foreign policy adaptations and adjustments by countries around the world including Pakistan.
Despite these developments, Pakistan continued to promote its relations with countries around the world on the basis of equality, mutual interest and mutually beneficial cooperation. We prioritized dialogue and consultations with countries around the globe.
During 2024, bilateral dialogue mechanisms including Bilateral Political Consultations (BPCs) were held with Belgium (Brussels, 12th December 2024), Belarus (Islamabad, 2nd July 2024), Bosnia-Herzegovina (Islamabad, 14-15 November), Canada (Ottawa, 26 April 2024), Denmark (Islamabad, 11th November 2024), the European Union (Islamabad, 6th March 2024), Estonia (Islamabad, 10 July 2024), France (Islamabad, 11th July 2024), Greece (Athens, 29th May 2024), Hungary (Budapest, 27th May 2024), Latvia (Islamabad, 15th May 2024), Lithuania (Islamabad, 24th May 2024), Oman (Muscat, 27 August 2024), Serbia (Belgrade, 22 January 2024), Sri Lanka (Islamabad, 30 July 2024), Switzerland (Berne, 24th January 2024), Sweden (Islamabad, 26 June 2024), Türkiye (Islamabad, 12th August 2024) and Turkmenistan (Islamabad, 23rd July 2024).
She said that Pakistan continued its policy of robust engagement with its close partners and friends. We reinforced our traditional partnerships with China, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and the wider Islamic world. These relationships are based on mutual trust and friendship and characterized by a tradition of robust dialogue and exchange of bilateral visits.
This year was marked by the traditional warmth and high-level exchanges between Pakistan and China. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif undertook an official visit to China in June while Premier Li Qian of China visited Pakistan in October. Pakistan and China also held the Fifth Pakistan-China Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue in Beijing in May 2024.
During these high level visits and exchanges, the two countries reached extensive consensus on further consolidating and deepening the Pakistan-China All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership; and promoting practical cooperation in diverse fields with special focus on CPEC.
There was a robust exchange of high-level engagements between Pakistan and the GCC countries. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif undertook four official visits to Saudi Arabia which consolidated our strategic and economic partnership. Important understandings were reached with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in political, security and economic domains and to translate the commitment between Prime Minister of Pakistan and H.R.H. Prince Mohammed bin Salman to expedite the investment package worth US$ 5 billion.
Trade and investment opportunities also remained a key focus of our bilateral engagements with Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE. Cooperation will be prioritized with these countries in energy, mining and aviation sectors.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that our region remains an important focus of our foreign policy.
FO spokesperson said that in our neighbourhood, the year 2024 started with an unfortunate military exchange with Iran. However, the two countries were successfully able to move forward through robust and active diplomatic engagement and high-level dialogue. With the official visit of late President Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi official visit to Pakistan from 22 to 24 April 2024, the two countries developed understandings on political, economic, and security matters.
She said that Afghanistan remained a priority on the agenda of Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach. Trade connectivity and people-to-people contacts were a priority in our engagement with Afghanistan. We have had some incidents on the border with Afghanistan. Pakistan’s major concern of terror hideouts and sanctuaries inside Afghanistan remained high on our bilateral agenda.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that we remain engaged with Afghan authorities on all issues of priority and would like to enhance cooperation in trade, transit trade, security, and border management.
As a firm adherent of a regional approach to the situation in Afghanistan, Pakistan participated in meetings and mechanisms aimed at promoting peace in Afghanistan including in the Moscow Format talks held in Moscow in November and the third quadrilateral meeting of Foreign Ministers of China, Iran, Pakistan, and Russia. The Ministers reiterated their support for Afghanistan’s national sovereignty, political independence, unity, and territorial integrity.
Pakistan and Türkiye agreed to further strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation in trade, investment, defence and security domains. The First Pakistan-Türkiye-Azerbaijan Trilateral Summit was held in Astana in Kazakhstan in July.
During the high-level engagements with Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan, important understandings were reached to enhance regional connectivity and cooperation in energy, transport and infrastructure. Our cooperation with these countries in the context of ECO will also continue.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that we continued to engage with the United States, to promote bilateral understanding. United States remains the largest export market for Pakistani products. The two countries reached substantive understandings on trade, investment, energy, health, education, agriculture, climate change and counter terrorism.
FO spokesperson said that we continued to cooperate and engage with our partners in Europe on bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest. Our focus was to develop deeper economic collaboration, cooperate to confront climate change and find opportunities in higher education and employment. Important understandings were reached with several European countries on labour migration, sustainable infrastructure projects, technical cooperation in civil aviation and fostering green partnerships.
She said that the European Union has lifted a four-year ban imposed on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), leading to resumption of PIA flights to Europe. Pakistan is also engaged with the non-EU countries for the resumption of flights in the wider region as well.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that Pakistan’s engagement continued to grow with non-EU countries including Belarus, Norway, Russia, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. During the high-level visits and dialogues, substantive understandings were reached on bilateral cooperation in climate change, health, trade and investment, energy, science and technology, education and technical training,
At the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), held in October in Samoa, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister presented Pakistan’s perspectives on key global issues and challenges with focus on climate change, economic development, and strengthening international cooperation within the Commonwealth community.
She said that Pakistan was chair of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Heads of Government Meeting held this year in October in Islamabad.
In his capacity as the Chair, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif presided over the CHG meeting held from 15 to 16 October 2024 in Islamabad. It was attended by Prime Ministers of Belarus, China, Kazakhstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic; and the Minister of External Affairs of India and the Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade of Iran. Prime Minister of Mongolia and the Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan also attended as special guests.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that we also continued to engage with ASEAN countries to promote understanding on regional peace and security and enhance cooperation in diverse fields.
During the visit of the Malaysian Prime Minister to Pakistan, the two sides agreed to further strengthen Pakistan-Malaysia ties in diverse fields including trade, connectivity, energy, agriculture, halal industry, tourism, cultural exchanges and people-to-people contacts.
She said that Pakistan’s relations with Africa are seeing a positive trend in terms of bilateral trade and political, parliamentary and security cooperation.
She said that Pakistan remained active in multilateral diplomacy in 2024 – both in individual capacity and as member of international groupings.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that Pakistan participated in international and regional organizations and groupings including; UN, OIC, NAM, CICA and SCO. Participation of the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister in high-level multilateral events offered opportunities to present Pakistan’s viewpoint on important regional and global issues; reaffirm commitment to multilateralism and international law; and underline our desire for enhanced regional connectivity and cooperation.
In his address at the UN General Assembly on 27th September, 2024, the Prime Minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s steadfast commitment to multilateralism and support for the role of the United Nations in fostering global peace, security, and prosperity.
We are encouraged with the results of our diplomatic efforts in multilateral settings. Pakistan was elected as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the term 2025-2026, receiving an overwhelming support in the elections held by the UN General Assembly in New York.
Pakistan was also elected as the member of International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Board of Governors (BOG) for a two-year term (2024-26) and the Chair of UN disarmament Commission for 2024.
This year Pakistan was a strong proponent of peace in the Middle East and called for an end to the genocide in Gaza and for end to Israeli aggression against countries in the region. We raised our voice at several multilateral platforms to highlight the concerns of the Palestinians, including the United Nations, the OIC, and the D-8.
Pakistan welcomed the Advisory Opinion by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the “Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.” Pakistan also participated in the oral public hearing held by ICJ on the case in February 2024. In its submissions to the ICJ, Pakistan reiterated its strong and unwavering support for the right to self-determination of the Palestinians and highlighted the illegality of the Israeli occupation.
In South Asia, Pakistan continued to pursue a policy of peaceful neighborhood, based on mutual respect, sovereign equality and mutual benefit.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that Pakistan advocated constructive engagement and result-oriented dialogue with India to resolve all outstanding issues, including the core dispute of Jammu and Kashmir. It also urged India to take steps to create conducive environment for advancement of peace and dialogue, as India’s retrogressive actions in Indian illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) have vitiated the bilateral environment and impeded the prospects for peace and cooperation.
Notwithstanding the difficulties in bilateral relations, the Ceasefire Understanding of 2003, reaffirmed in February 2021, was upheld at the Line of Control in the interest of regional peace. The two sides also renewed the Kartarpur Corridor Agreement for another five years. Visits of thousands of Indian pilgrims to different shrines in Pakistan were also organized under the Bilateral Protocol of 1974.
She said that Pakistan also expressed its serious concerns on Indian campaign of extra-territorial and extra-judicial assassinations on Pakistan’s soil. Details of concrete evidence were made public in January.
She said that Pakistan’s relations with other South Asian countries Sri Lanka, Maldives, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh witnessed positive developments. Pakistan is keen to strengthen the existing multifaceted cooperation with these countries. In this context, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister held important meetings with the Foreign Ministers of Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the Maldives on the sidelines of important multilateral events and conferences.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that throughout the year, Pakistan raised its voice for the people of Kashmir at all relevant bilateral and regional forums. It called for an end to grave human rights violations in IIOJK and for a just resolution of the dispute according to the wishes of Kashmiri people and the relevant UNSC resolutions.
She said that Pakistan denounced the Indian authorities’ decision to ban Kashmiri parties and called for release of Kashmiri activists and human rights defenders.
She said that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute was highlighted in bilateral and multilateral forums. The 15th Islamic Summit and the 50th Session of OIC Council of Ministers adopted important communiqués and resolutions, expressing unequivocal support to the Kashmir cause. Three meetings of OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir were held in May, August and September this year.
She said that going forward, Pakistan will continue to make all possible political and diplomatic efforts for the settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions.
Regarding Pakistan’s engagement with the United States, the FO Spokesperson emphasised that diplomatic ties with the US remain strong. Furthermore, Pakistan continues to engage with its European partners. The European Union recently lifted a ban on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), and Pakistan is also in talks with other countries to remove similar restrictions on PIA flights.
The FO spokesperson also addressed relations with Iran, stating that the year began with military clashes between the two nations but noted that both countries had made efforts to engage diplomatically in April.
While there have been ongoing border issues with Afghanistan, Pakistan remains in contact with Afghan authorities, seeking to improve cooperation in security, trade, and other areas.
Foreign Office Spokesperson said that Pakistan had carried out an intelligence-based operation against terrorists in “border areas based on threats to Pakistani citizens’ security”, referring to an airstrike conducted on Tuesday night.
The FO Spokesperson said: “Our security and law enforcement personal conduct operation in border areas to protect the people of Pakistan from terrorist groups. These counterterrorism operations are carefully selected and based on accurate intelligence.”
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said: “The intelligence-based operation was conducted by Pakistan in Afghanistan’s border areas.”
She added that it was carried out “based on threats to the security of Pakistani citizens”. However, the official stressed that Pakistan had “always prioritised dialogue in matters relating to ties with Afghanistan”. “We respect Afghanistan’s integrity and sovereignty,” she asserted.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch noted that Pakistan’s security forces and law enforcement agencies routinely conduct operations “against terrorist groups in the border areas”. “Preparations for these operations are made in an extremely careful manner,” she highlighted.
Stating that protecting its citizens was Pakistan’s top priority, the FO spokesperson reiterated that there were “threats posed by terrorist elements to Pakistan and its citizens”. “Pakistan is committed to the security of its public,” Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said.