The Foreign Office (FO) of Pakistan expressed its dissatisfaction with the comments made by the Pentagon regarding the recent arrests of former military officers, including ex-ISI chief Lt Gen Faiz Hameed (retired). The FO spokesperson, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, emphasized that foreign governments should refrain from commenting on Pakistan’s internal affairs.
The statements from the Pentagon came after Pakistan’s military announced the detention of the retired officers on charges of corruption and misuse of authority. In response to a query about Gaza ceasefire talks in Qatar, Baloch reiterated Pakistan’s support for initiatives leading to peace and dialogue for the Palestinian cause. However, she refrained from commenting on the negotiations in Doha, stating that Pakistan is not a party to the talks.
Furthermore, Baloch strongly denounced the storming of Al-Aqsa mosque by extremist settlers, calling it a violation of the Geneva Convention and a disregard of UNSC resolutions. She urged the international community, especially the UN Security Council, to take immediate action to protect the Islamic character of Al-Aqsa and ensure the freedom of worship for the Palestinian people.
Regarding the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, Baloch reiterated Pakistan’s call for a peaceful settlement of the dispute and urged all parties to work towards that end. She also rejected allegations of Pakistan’s alleged role in ousting the former Bangladeshi prime minister, emphasizing that the people of Bangladesh have the capacity to determine their future without foreign intervention.
In addition, she affirmed Pakistan’s support for the case in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against the Israeli genocide of the Palestinian people, acknowledging the statements made by South Africa and Turkiye in support of the case.
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Baloch also expressed deep concern about the recent developments in the Middle East due to Israel’s actions against the Palestinians and its adventurism in the region. Pakistan supports the OIC’s call for holding Israel accountable for its actions and believes that the United Nations should ensure peace in the region.
On the subject of Pakistan-Afghanistan relations, Baloch highlighted the functional diplomatic missions between the two countries and the robust exchange of communications on all aspects of ties. She also addressed the recent visa guidelines for the National Assembly Secretariat and Senate Secretariat, emphasizing the need to discourage the misuse of introductory letters by government officials.
Lastly, she regretted the recent Afghan firing on the Torkham border, stating that Pakistani forces responded in self-defense and urging Afghan authorities to exercise restraint to avoid unprovoked acts on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Baloch emphasized Pakistan’s consistent concerns about the presence of terrorist hideouts and sanctuaries inside Afghanistan and called for effective action against terrorist groups by the Afghan authorities.
