ISLAMABAD, Aug 1 (Alliance News): Pakistan on Thursday strongly condemned Israel’s continued military actions in the region, particularly its recent strikes on Lebanon on July 30. Pakistan also called for accountability for the killers of Ismail Haniyeh, Chief of the Political Bureau of Hamas, in Tehran.
“Targeting individuals within sovereign states violates international law and global norms. Such acts escalate tensions and demonstrate indiscriminate and disproportionate aggression by Israel, which threatens regional and global peace and security,” said Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch during her weekly press briefing.
Labeling Israel’s military actions in Beirut as a “grievous infringement” on Lebanon’s sovereignty and a blatant violation of international law and the UN Charter, Baloch affirmed Pakistan’s solidarity with the people of Lebanon, supporting their right to live in peace and security.
“Israel must be held accountable for its actions. Its extraterritorial operations have endangered regional security. Those backing Israel should urge it to end its unlawful military operations that violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of regional countries,” she stated.
Baloch described the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on Wednesday as a dangerous escalation in an already volatile region, undermining peace efforts. “We express our condolences to his family and the Palestinian people. His killers must be held accountable,” she added.
Since October 2023, Israel has launched a campaign of terror against the Palestinian people, she said. “Its war on Gaza and the inhumane siege, in violation of international human rights and humanitarian law, have caused misery, death, and destruction. These acts constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity. We call upon the United Nations to uphold international law and end the genocide of the people of Gaza,” Baloch remarked, reiterating Pakistan’s support for the Palestinian right to self-determination, their right of return, and the establishment of an independent state of Palestine with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
Reflecting on the fifth anniversary of India’s actions in Jammu and Kashmir, Baloch condemned the illegal and unilateral measures taken on August 5, 2019. “These acts aimed to disempower the Kashmiri people and alter the demographic structure of the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), violating international law and relevant UN Security Council resolutions,” she said.
She urged India to reverse its actions since August 5, 2019, and reiterated Pakistan’s continued political, diplomatic, and moral support for the Kashmiri people in their pursuit of a just and peaceful resolution as per UN Security Council resolutions.
Baloch also briefed the media on recent diplomatic engagements, highlighting the visit of Commonwealth Secretary General Patricia Scotland to Islamabad, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar’s trip to Tehran for Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s investiture ceremony, and Foreign Secretary Muhammad Syrus Sajjad Qazi’s participation in the 31st ASEAN Regional Forum in Vientiane, Lao PDR.
During his Iran visit, DPM Dar congratulated President Masoud Pezeshkian and the Iranian nation on the successful transition of power. At the seventh round of Bilateral Political Consultations between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, both sides decided to explore new opportunities for cooperation in agriculture, health, connectivity, and culture.
Regarding a United Nations Security Council report on the threat posed by Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and its increased collaboration with the Afghan Taliban, Baloch reiterated Pakistan’s call for Afghanistan to take robust action against those using Afghan soil for terror activities in Pakistan.
Commenting on an attack on a UN vehicle in Tank, she assured that Pakistan would make every effort to ensure the safety of foreigners, including diplomats, tourists, and workers. She also praised Pakistani expatriates in the Middle East for being law-abiding and contributing to their host countries’ development.
In response to a question about Indian media’s portrayal of Pakistan, Baloch urged Indian authorities to assess the situation in IIOJK and ensure the people have their rights and freedom as per international laws.
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