Pakistan calls for full implementation of ICJ judgement on Gaza

Special Correspondent

ISLAMABAD: In view of the recent spike in terrorism in Pakistan, the Foreign Office (FO) Thursday urged Afghan authorities to take immediate and effective action against the terror entities and hand over their leadership to Islamabad.

Earlier today, at least one person was killed and four others were injured as multiple blasts were reported in different parts of Balochistan including the provincial capital Quetta.

At her weekly briefing in Islamabad, FO spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said: “Pakistan has been raising concerns over the terror threat emanating from Afghanistan.”

Responding to a question, she said the Indian external affairs ministry had not denied the veracity of our credible evidence regarding New Delhi’s involvement in extraterritorial and extra-judicial killings in Pakistan.

“India is involved in terrorist incidents inside Pakistan,” she added.

The spokesperson also said Pakistan had also shared the evidence of India’s involvement in terror acts with friendly countries and other relevant countries, especially the ones with which we need further cooperation in holding to account the individuals behind the terror acts.

She said that India’s charges of terrorism against Pakistan are neither new nor credible, describing them as ridiculous. 

The spokesperson pointed out that India has been involved in terror incidents and extraterritorial and extra-judicial killings in countries around the world.

Baloch also voiced serious concerns over the attacks on Muslim places of worship in India. She said there is a concerted campaign to demolish mosques in India and replace them with temples.

These acts, she said, would remain a blot on the face of Indian democracy for the times to come.

The spokesperson said Pakistan would observe Kashmir Solidarity Day on Monday next (February 5). She said an elaborate program has been outlined to mark the day.

She said Pakistan will continue to extend moral, political and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri people for the just and peaceful settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions.

When asked about the killing of nine Pakistani workers in Iran, the spokesperson said this was an inhumane act which has been condemned both by Pakistan and Iran.

She said Pakistan expects the Iranian authorities to share details of the attack as soon as the investigation into the incident is completed.

“Pakistan also calls for the full implementation of ICJ’s provisional judgment to uphold human rights, dignity, and identity of the Palestinian people as per the UN Charter, relevant resolutions, and international law. The implementation of these provisional measures requires an immediate and unconditional ceasefire to bring about an end to the suffering faced by the people of Gaza,” Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said in her weekly press briefing.

Expressing deep concerns over the oppression of Palestinian people, she strongly condemned the Israeli attack inside the Ibn Sina Hospital in Jenin which, she said, fell in the category of war crimes being perpetrated against the Palestinian people.

“These ongoing atrocities go against the spirit of the provisional measures decided by the International Court of Justice to protect the people of Gaza,” she remarked. 

Besides, she said the suspension of funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) also went against the spirit of the ICJ’s provisional measures. We urge reconsideration of the decision to suspend funding of UNRWA which has a crucial role in protecting and supporting the Palestinian people, she remarked. 

Highlighting the diplomatic engagements taken place during the last week, spokesperson Baloch mentioned the ongoing visit of Caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani to Brussels to attend the Third EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum.

On the sidelines, he also held bilateral meetings with a number of European Union officials, including the Secretary-General of the European External Action Service, Stefano Sannino; the EU Special Envoy for Religious Freedom, Frans van Daele; the Commissioner for Climate Action, Wopke Hoekstra; and the Chair of European Parliament’s Delegation for Relations with the countries of South Asia, Nicola Procaccini.