Editor
Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch confirmed on Thursday that Pakistan has formally invited all heads of presidency of the the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states, together with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for the upcoming Council of Heads of Government (CHG) assembly in Islamabad.
Baloch, addressing a weekly information briefing within the federal capital, stated that Islamabad has additionally obtained some confirmations for the upcoming SCO moot to be hosted by Pakistan on October 15-16.
Responding to a query, Baloch stated Pakistan doesn’t have commerce relations with India.
The official affirmation relating to Islamabad’s invites to the heads of the SCO member states got here two days after Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stated that Pakistan will surely invite PM Modi to the regional summit.
Asif additionally stated the host nation couldn’t decide and select about inviting the heads of state, including that not extending an invite to any member state was inappropriate and the SCO wouldn’t settle for any such transfer by any host member state.
Earlier this week, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had denied the media experiences suggesting that PM Modi wouldn’t attend the upcoming SCO summit in Pakistan and urged media retailers to chorus from speculating on the matter.
The MEA’s assertion emphasised India’s place that no official determination had been made relating to the prime minister’s participation within the SCO assembly in Pakistan.
The South Asian nations have a historical past of strained ties, notably because of the longstanding Kashmir dispute.
The FO spokesperson stated Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally recognised disputed territory.
She stated the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions clearly state that the ultimate disposition of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute shall be made in accordance with the need of the individuals by a UN-supervised plebiscite.
In this backdrop, Baloch stated that every other course of can’t function an alternative to granting the best of self-determination to the Kashmiri individuals.
‘No talks with TTP’
Responding to a different question, Baloch stated Pakistan has no plans to have interaction in any talks with the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
She stated the presence of terror teams together with the TTP in Afghanistan is confirmed by a number of worldwide experiences together with the United Nations (UN).
“We anticipate the Afghan authorities to take sturdy motion in opposition to these terror teams and stop their actions that endanger Pakistan’s safety,” she added.
The spokesperson reiterated Islamabad’s stance given on the matter final month by which the nation dominated out any dialogue with the militant outfit, saying that dialogues will not be doable with components concerned within the killings of Pakistanis and foreigners.
The federal authorities has taken a troublesome stance after witnessing a surge in terrorist assaults and launched a reinvigorated and re-energised nationwide counter-terrorism drive, Azm-e-Istehkam (Resolve for Stability), in June to show up the warmth on militants focusing on the state.
CPEC initiatives debt
When requested concerning the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the spokesperson stated: “It is a transformational venture that has contributed positively and transparently to Pakistan’s nationwide improvement.”
She additional stated that the CPEC venture enjoys assist and recognition in all provinces and throughout the political divide in Pakistan.
The FO spokesperson clarified that Pakistan’s whole public debt regarding CPEC initiatives is a small proportion of its whole debt. Moreover, she stated, the general public debt obtained from China has longer maturity durations with low rates of interest.
She reaffirmed Pakistan’s dedication to offer full safety to all Chinese nationals, initiatives and establishments.
