On Thursday, Pakistan expressed its appreciation for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’s decision to invoke Article 99 of the UN Charter, drawing attention to the critical security situation and humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
In a rare move, the UN chief recently invoked Article 99, issuing a clear warning that Gaza was on the brink of complete collapse due to Israeli bombardment.
Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, during a weekly news briefing in Islamabad, commented, “This decision of the Secretary-General demonstrates his conscientious assessment of the catastrophic situation in Gaza.”
She strongly condemned Israel’s continued use of force and indiscriminate attacks on civilians and civilian facilities, flagrantly violating international humanitarian law. She emphasized that the suffering and collective punishment faced by the besieged people of Gaza were unprecedented and unacceptable.
Referring to the UN chief’s letter to the UN Security Council president, she noted that civilians throughout Gaza were in grave danger, and nowhere was safe. The humanitarian lifeline essential for survival was at severe risk of collapse, she added.
Baloch emphasized that the situation was rapidly deteriorating with potentially irreversible implications for Palestine and regional peace and security. She urged the international community to end the ongoing situation and prevent a humanitarian catastrophe, echoing the Secretary-General’s call.
Regarding the Indian parliament’s decision on legislation concerning the future of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), Baloch called it another attempt by India to perpetuate its occupation and deny the people of Jammu and Kashmir their right to self-determination.
She reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir was an internationally recognized disputed territory, and any decisions should align with UN Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people. Pakistan rejected India’s occupation and condemned its unilateral and illegal measures, aiming to change the demographic structure and political landscape of IIOJK.
Baloch urged India to rescind these measures, provide relief to the people of IIOJK, and create a positive environment for peace and dialogue. Pakistan pledged ongoing political, diplomatic, and moral support for the just and peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in line with UN Security Council Resolutions.
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