Islamabad: While welcoming the decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration on the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) as a positive development, the Foreign Office (FO) stated that the ruling reaffirms the IWT’s continued effectiveness and validity. The FO underscored that the verdict makes it clear India has no right to take unilateral measures under the treaty.
This was said by FO Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan in his weekly press briefing here Friday.
He said Pakistan has assumed presidency of UN Security Council for 2025 which is big movement forward on diplomatic front.
Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif represented Pakistan in 17th summit conference of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) in Azerbaijan. He presented Pakistan stance in forceful way.
He met several global leaders on sidelines so that bilateral cooperation could be promoted.
Permanent court of arbitration has declared the unilateral suspension of IWT by India illegal. Pakistan has welcomed it.
Talking about exchange of prisoners lists, he said the exchange of lists of prisoners took place between Pakistan and India on July 01 under Counselor Access agreement 2008.
A list of 246 Indian prisoners was handed over by Pakistan to Indian High Commission in New Delhi while India handed over list of Pakistani prisoners to Pakistan authorities in Islamabad.
Pakistan stressed India to ensure safety of Pakistani prisoners.
An open meeting has been convened on July 23 on the issue of Palestine.
Another diplomatic success at global level for Pakistan remained that Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Vienna, Ambassador Kamran Akhtar, has been unanimously elected as President of the 53rd session of the Industrial Development Board (IDB) of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) . It is honor for Pakistan.
Turning to the prevailing situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the Foreign Office Spokesperson said Pakistan, from time to time, has been inviting the international community’s attention towards the plight of the Kashmiri political prisoners, languishing in various jails in India and Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Shafqat Ali Khan said these prisoners include a prominent Kashmiri leader, Shabbir Ahmed Shah, who has spent more than half of his seventy two years’ life in different jails.
The Spokesperson urged the Indian authorities to immediately release Shabbir Ahmed Shah in view of his medical condition.
