ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Foreign Office said on Thursday that Saudi Arabia-led military alliance of 39 Islamic Countries for combating terrorism would bring the Muslim Countries together against the menace of terrorism.
“The alliance is not against any country”, the Foreign Office Spokesman Nafees Zakaria said at his weekly media briefing in Islamabad.
His remarks came in response to a question regarding Iran’s reservation over former Pakistan Army Chief General (retd) Raheel Sharif’s appointment as the Chief of Saudi military alliance.
Talking to media, the Iranian ambassador to Pakistan Mehdi Honardoost said on April 3 that the Islamic Republic was not satisfied with the military alliance led by Saudi Arabia, and also expressed reservations over Pakistani government’s decision to allow Raheel Sharif to lead the Coalition.
The spokesman further said that the visits of foreign delegations to Pakistan are manifestation of fast-growing bilateral relations of the country with international community.
“The delegations from China, United Kingdom, Italy, Malaysia and Russia visited Pakistan last week for developing bilateral relations in the field of business, trade, defense, energy and culture,” he said.
Zakaria said that Pakistan attaches great importance to facilitate the movement of Afghan people to Pakistan for genuine purposes.
However, he added that the United Nation High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) should raise the amount to 400$ for each Afghan returnee for their smooth settlement in Afghanistan.
Replying to a question regarding Pak-Afghan border, the spokesman said that “Fencing is done on our side of the border for the safety and security of people, living on both sides of the border.”
The foreign office spokesman said that Pakistan desires to maintain peaceful relations with the neighboring countries.
Nafees Zakaria said that hundreds of innocent children and defenseless civilians were being mercilessly killed and deliberately targeted by the Indian forces in the Indian-Occupied Kashmir.
“India makes ceasefire violation on the Line of Control (LoC) in order to divert the attention of the international community from deteriorating situation of human rights violations in Indian-Occupied Kashmir,” he remarked.
Highlighting the role of media in projection of human rights violation in Indian-Occupied Kashmir, the spokesperson said the international community has realized the attitude of India, which poses threats to regional stability.
Furthermore, Zakaria said that a delegation of British Parliamentarians is visiting Pakistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) in connection with Kashmir issue and to gather information on human rights violations in Indian-Occupied Kashmir, perpetrated by the Indian forces.
Zakaria said that members of civil society and Human Rights activists have been undertaking activities to sensitize people on the grave human rights situation in the occupied valley.
Regarding mediations on matters of concern between India and Pakistan especially at the backdrop of human rights violation in Indian-Occupied Kashmir, the spokesperson said, “We have already welcomed such mediations.”
“India usually reacts negatively towards such offers,” he said.
