Day: December 19, 2021

Islamabad, December 19, 2021 (PPI-OT):Prime Minister Imran Khan has urged the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to continue advocacy for the resolution of Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions. He was talking to Secretary General of OIC Hissien Brahim Taha who called on him in Islamabad on Sunday on the side-lines of OIC Ministerial Conference.

Appreciating OIC’s steadfast support to Kashmiri people, the Prime Minister raised concern over the grave human rights situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Highlighting the contemporary challenges of Islamophobia affecting Muslims around the world, Imran Khan suggested that OIC should take a lead in educating the global audience about the love and reverence of Muslims for the Holy Prophet Peace be Upon Him.

For more information, contact:
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
Government of Pakistan
4th Floor, Cabinet Block, Pak. Secretariat, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-9103557
Email: info@moib.gov.pk
Website: http://www.moib.gov.pk

Islamabad, December 19, 2021 (PPI-OT):Prime Minister Imran Khan has stressed the need for exploring new avenues of cooperation between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Talking to Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan Al Saud in Islamabad on Sunday, he underscored the special significance of Pakistan-Saudi Arabia relationship which is based on close fraternal ties, historic links and support at the grass roots level.

Regarding Afghanistan, the Prime Minister expressed the hope the world would not repeat the mistake of disengaging with the country. He said Pakistan remains committed to facilitate humanitarian organizations working from Pakistan for their humanitarian support to Afghanistan.

In his remarks, the Saudi Foreign Minister hoped that extraordinary session of the OIC will be instrumental in mobilizing international community to support the people of Afghanistan on humanitarian grounds. He also underscored the importance that Saudi Arabia attaches to its strong relationship with Pakistan, based on bonds of brotherhood.

Prime Minister Imran Khan has reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthen bilateral ties with Iran. Talking to Iranian Foreign Minister Dr. Amir Hossein Abdollahiyan in Islamabad today [Sunday], he appreciated Iran’s consistent support on Kashmir, especially at the Supreme Leader level.

The Prime Minister urged international community to find additional ways for long term reconstruction and infrastructure development in Afghanistan. The Iranian Foreign Minister appreciated Pakistan’s decision to host extraordinary session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers. He assured of Iran’s full cooperation to promote bilateral relations.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Dato Sri Saifuddin Abdullah, also called on Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad today [Sunday]. Talking to him, the Prime Minister said Pakistan is committed to deepen bilateral ties with Malaysia through enhanced economic engagement and further strengthening of cooperation in a range of areas including tourism, defence, and people to people exchanges.

He said Pakistan and Malaysia have historical relations deeply rooted in mutual respect and support at regional and global level. The Malaysian Foreign Minister appreciated the convening of OIC Extraordinary Session on Afghanistan as a timely initiative to address the humanitarian crisis confronting the Afghan people. He also lauded Pakistan’s constructive role for promotion of peace and stability in Afghanistan.

For more information, contact:
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
Government of Pakistan
4th Floor, Cabinet Block, Pak. Secretariat, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-9103557
Email: info@moib.gov.pk
Website: http://www.moib.gov.pk

Islamabad, December 19, 2021 (PPI-OT):The extraordinary session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in Islamabad on Sunday unanimously passed a resolution, envisaging establishment of a Humanitarian Trust Fund to serve as a vehicle to channel humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan including in partnership with other international actors.

The resolution calls upon the Islamic Development Bank to expeditiously operationalize the Humanitarian Trust Fund by the first quarter of the next year. The OIC, through its resolution, called on the OIC Member States, the Islamic Financial Institutions, donors and other international partners to announce pledges to the Humanitarian Trust Fund for Afghanistan as well as to provide humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan.

Taking into consideration financial constraints of Afghanistan, the forum called for unfreezing Afghanistan’s financial assets to prevent an economic collapse and help revive the economic activity. The OIC decided that a process will be commenced with the UN system organizations to devise a road map for mobilizing actions at the relevant fora to unlock the financial and banking channels to resume liquidity and flow of financial and humanitarian assistance.

The organization also decided to launch an Afghanistan Food Security Programme, urging the Islamic Organization for Food Security to undertake necessary work in this regard. It decided to appoint a special OIC envoy on Afghanistan to coordinate aid and assistance efforts, and pursue economic and political engagement with the country.

It was agreed that the OIC will play a leading role in the delivery of humanitarian and development aid to the people of Afghanistan. The forum stressed for engaging with donor financial institutions to provide necessary humanitarian and economic assistance to Afghanistan as well as Afghan refugees in neighbouring countries.

The resolution reaffirmed the importance of combating terrorism in Afghanistan and ensuring that the territory of Afghanistan is not used as a platform or safe haven by any terrorist group or organization; It called upon Afghanistan to take concrete steps against all terrorist organizations in particular Al-Qaeda, Daesh and its affiliates, ETIM, and TTP.

The forum reaffirmed that peace, security and stability in Afghanistan would also contribute to the safe and dignified return of all Afghan refugees. It urged the international community to remain cautious against the possibility of incitement and the role of spoilers, both inside and outside the country, to derail efforts aimed at peace and stability in Afghanistan.

It called upon the Afghan authorities to continue to work towards greater inclusiveness and including by developing a roadmap to strengthen participation of all Afghans including women and girls to participate in all aspects of the Afghan society. The Extraordinary session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers also unanimously adopted Islamabad declaration condemning the illegal colonial measures undertaken by Israel to colonize the Palestinian territory.

Declaring the Israeli measures illegal, null and void, the declaration read that the OIC does not recognize any changes affecting the pre-1967 borders particularly with regard to Al-Quds Al Sharif. It called upon the international community including the UNSC to hold the Israeli colonial occupation accountable for its violations and take all necessary measures including imposing sanctions against Israel to stop these violations.

The declaration also condemned the repeated attacks by Israeli occupation authorities on the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque and its continuous attempts to change the historical and legal status quo there using flimsy religious pretexts.

For more information, contact:
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
Government of Pakistan
4th Floor, Cabinet Block, Pak. Secretariat, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-9103557
Email: info@moib.gov.pk
Website: http://www.moib.gov.pk

Islamabad, December 19, 2021 (PPI-OT):Pakistan has offered to extend cooperation to Somalia in the fields of science, technology, defense and diplomacy. The offer was made by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi during a meeting with his Somali counterpart Abdi said Muse Ali on the side-lines of OIC ministerial conference in Islamabad on Sunday.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi said a Memorandum of Understanding for bilateral political consultations between the two countries will be finalized soon. He said Pakistan is committed to increase bilateral trade with Somalia. On the occasion, the Somalian Foreign Minister appreciated Pakistan for organizing the extra ordinary meeting of OIC countries.

For more information, contact:
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
Government of Pakistan
4th Floor, Cabinet Block, Pak. Secretariat, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-9103557
Email: info@moib.gov.pk
Website: http://www.moib.gov.pk

Islamabad, December 19, 2021 (PPI-OT):Addressing a joint news conference along with Secretary General of OIC Hissien Brahim Taha after the extraordinary session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in Islamabad, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said this gathering has made the international community and the Ummah realize the magnitude of the Afghan problem.

He said there will be further follow up meetings to alleviate the sufferings of the Afghan people. The Foreign Minister said that the Afghan delegation apprised the OIC meeting about the situation in Afghanistan. The OIC Secretary General in his remarks said the OIC meeting would have given a hope to the Afghan people for a better future.

For more information, contact:
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
Government of Pakistan
4th Floor, Cabinet Block, Pak. Secretariat, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-9103557
Email: info@moib.gov.pk
Website: http://www.moib.gov.pk

Rawalpindi, December 19, 2021 (PPI-OT):Foreign Minister of Iran, Mr Hossein Amir Abdollahian met Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa today. Geo-strategic environment particularly situation in Afghanistan, defence and security cooperation were discussed during the meeting. Pak-Iran Border security mechanism also came under discussion.

COAS said that Pakistan and Iran are two brotherly neighbours with shared history, culture and religion. Defence collaboration between the two countries has been strengthening over the years, COAS reiterated. Referring to OIC’s extra ordinary session, COAS termed it historic development for addressing the dire humanitarian situation in Afghanistan and bringing international community to a shared vision and joint strategy to find solution to emerging challenges in the region vital for peace and stability.

Iranian FM acknowledged Pakistan’s contributions towards regional peace and the important role that Pakistan is playing in this regard. Both sides agreed to stay engaged for enhanced bilateral cooperation while jointly working to assist in bringing positive developments in issues concerning the region particularly efforts to mitigate challenges facing people of Afghanistan.

For more information, contact:
Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR)
Hilal Road, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-9271605
Fax: +92-51-9271601
Email: ispr@ispr.gov.pk
Website: www.ispr.gov.pk

Islamabad, December 19, 2021 (PPI-OT):Pakistan and Uzbekistan have reaffirmed to expedite work on construction of Trans Afghan Railway between Tashkent, Kabul and Islamabad. The resolve was expressed during meeting between Minister for Railways Azam Khan Swati and Transport Minister of Uzbekistan in Islamabad on Sunday.

During the meeting, the Railways Minister said all out steps are being taken to ensure implementation of the project, which will provide Uzbekistan uninterrupted access to Arabian sea ports of Karachi, bin Qasim and Gwadar.

For more information, contact:
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
Government of Pakistan
4th Floor, Cabinet Block, Pak. Secretariat, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-9103557
Email: info@moib.gov.pk
Website: http://www.moib.gov.pk