Pakistan to host SCO members summit, including India, in October

Pakistan will host the Shanghai Cooperation Group (SCO) Heads of Governments assembly in October this yr, Overseas Workplace spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch stated on Thursday.

Throughout her weekly press briefing, she acknowledged that earlier than the October summit, there can be a ministerial assembly and a number of rounds of senior officers conferences to focus on fostering cooperation in finance, economics, socio-cultural affairs and humanitarian efforts amongst SCO member nations.

She informed the media that Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and senior cupboard members lately visited Kazakhstan for the SCO Council of Heads of State and SCO Plus Summits in Kazakhstan and likewise Tajikistan to a bilateral go to.

Through the SCO Summit in Astana, the prime minister additionally participated within the inaugural Pakistan-Azerbaijan-Turkey Trilateral Summit.

In Dushanbe, the main focus of his conferences was enhancing complete cooperation between Pakistan and Tajikistan on regional and world problems with mutual curiosity.

Through the go to, Pakistan and Tajikistan signed the Strategic Partnership Settlement, which incorporates scheduled high-level dialogues involving leaders and Overseas Ministers.

She stated the Palestinian college students from Gaza in batches of 20-30 will quickly be a part of medical faculties in Pakistan. The choice will allow Gaza college students to finish their medical schooling in Pakistan within the fields of cardiology, orthopaedics, oncology, paediatrics and surgical procedure to deal with the vital wants in Gaza’s well being care system.

Commenting on current Worldwide Spiritual Freedom report, she expressed that unilateral stories assessing different nations’ human rights conditions weren’t free from political bias and introduced an incomplete and distorted image. The methodology adopted in making ready these stories and the mandate and experience of its authors are usually not clear, she added.

“It’s unlucky that the report refers to sure incidents in Pakistan final yr with out highlighting the robust political will proven by the federal government to carry the perpetrators accountable in addition to the remedial efforts undertaken and the authorized and administrative protections in place for spiritual minorities.”

It can’t be considered from the lens of any single nation’s social and authorized perspective, she stated.

She informed the media that the Indian authorities’ marketing campaign to crush dissent within the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) remained relentless. She informed a distinguished Kashmiri lawyer and former President of the Excessive Courtroom Bar Affiliation, Mian Abdul Qayoom has lately been arrested on fabricated costs. He suffers from a number of persistent illnesses and outdated age.

“His arrest is a transparent act of political vendetta. We urge the Indian authorities to launch Mian Abdul Qayoom and 1000’s of different Kashmiri political prisoners, dissenters and human rights defenders.”

The spokesperson stated Pakistan will proceed to increase political, diplomatic and ethical help to our Kashmiri individuals for the simply and peaceable settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UN Safety Council Resolutions.

Commenting on Pak-India relations, she stated Pakistan and India exchanged lists of prisoners in one another’s custody in pursuance of the Consular Entry Settlement of 2008.

She stated Pakistan handed over a listing of 254 Indian or believed-to-be-Indian civilian prisoners and fishermen in Pakistani jails. India shared a listing of 452 Pakistani or believed-to-be-Pakistani civilian prisoners and fishermen in Indian jails.

She stated Pakistan is dedicated to addressing these humanitarian issues as a matter of precedence. Final yr, Pakistan launched 485 Indian nationals together with 06 civil prisoners and 479 fishermen.

“We may even proceed endeavors to make sure the early return of all Pakistani prisoners in Indian jails. As a part of these efforts, the repatriation of 62 Pakistani prisoners in 2023, and 04 in 2024, have taken place,” she stated.

The spokesperson highlighted the participation of Pakistan’s Particular Consultant on Afghanistan Ambassador Asif Ali Khan Durrani together with a delegation within the Doha-III assembly of Particular Envoys on Afghanistan, held underneath the UN auspices in Doha from 30 June to 2 July 2024.

Vowing steady Afghanistan she stated, a bilateral assembly between Pakistan and the Afghan Interim Authorities was held on 1 July 2024. The 2 sides exchanged views on key problems with mutual concern, together with peace and safety.

{ Updated : 7 June 2024}