ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Imran Khan is to visit Geneva to attend thefirst-ever Global Refugees Forum beginning on the 17th of this month.
At his weekly news briefing in Islamabad on Friday, Foreign OfficeSpokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal said the forum is being held in recognitionof Pakistan’s generosity, hospitality and compassion for hosting the Afghanrefugees for over forty years. This is the first major meeting on therefugees of 21st century and it will be jointly hosted by the UN RefugeeAgency and the government of Switzerland.
Several heads of states are expected to join Prime Minister Imran Khan asco-conveners.
The Spokesperson said on the invitation of Malaysian Prime MinisterMahathir Mohammad, Prime Minister Imran Khan will also participate in theKuala Lumpur Summit due to take place in Kuala Lumpur from 18th to 20th ofthis month.
The spokesperson said Kuala Lumpur Summit is a platform to exchange viewson the current challenges and to work together to address them.
He said the summit will provide Pakistan with the opportunity to exchangeviews and find solution to the challenges facing the Muslim world,particularly governance, development, terrorism and Islamophobia. He saidthe summit will also provide us an opportunity to foster cooperation indiverse areas with the participating countries.
Responding to a question, the Spokesperson said we have categoricallyrejected Pakistan’s specific biased remarks in India-Japan joint statementof the first foreign and defence ministers meeting held on 30th November.He said those one sided remarks have nothing to do with the groundrealities.
Dr Muhammad Faisal said Japan is well aware of Pakistan’s sacrifices in thewar on terrorism and the same were also acknowledged by the then JapaneseForeign Minister during his visit to Pakistan in January last year.
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The spokesperson said Pakistan has registered its strong disappointment andconcerns to the Japanese side through diplomatic channels.
He said Pakistan attaches great importance to its relations with Japanwhich is free from any historical baggage. He hoped Pakistan and Japan willcontinue to work together for advancement of shared goals for peace anddevelopment.
Voicing concerns over the situation in occupied Kashmir, Dr Muhammad Faisalsaid the humanitarian nightmare is worsening in the valley with continuedmilitary lockdown and complete communications blackout. This is affectingthe life and property of millions of Kashmiri people who have been cut offfrom the rest of the world.
He urged the international community including the United Nations to takenotice of the brutal suppression of the religious rights and freedoms ofKashmiri people.
Dr Muhammad Faisal said India should immediately restore internet andmobile phone services, release all the prisoners and remove all thedraconian laws. He said India should allow international media and humanrights observers to visit Occupied Kashmir to independently observe thesituation there.
Responding to a question, Dr Muhammad Faisal said Kashmir is an outstandingdispute and its resolution only lies in the aspirations of Kashmiri people.He said Pakistan stands by their oppressed Kashmiri brethren and there hasbeen no change in our Kashmir policy.
