Director General of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Mariano Grossi will visit Pakistan next week from 15-16 February 2023.  During his two-day visit, he will hold high level meetings including with the Foreign Secretary and undertake visits to different institutions employing nuclear technology in the fields of health, agriculture, industry and power generation.

Speaking at her weekly news briefing in Islamabad on Thursday, Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch has stated that IAEA Chief visit will provide an opportunity to Pakistan and the IAEA to explore avenues to advance cooperation in peaceful applications of nuclear technology for socio-economic development.

Responding a question she stated that Secretary General Asian Cooperation Dialogue Dr. Pornchai Danvivathana is in Pakistan and is having meetings with senior officials. She said during these meetings Pakistan has reaffirmed its desire for multilateralism and forging mutually beneficial relationship with all member states of Asian Cooperation Dialogue.

About the ongoing situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the spokesperson said India is carrying out an eviction drive in the occupied territory to dispossess the Kashmiris of their land.She said no such practice can subdue the Kashmiri people and Pakistan will continue to support them in their just struggle for right to self-determination. In the recent years, in some states of India, bulldozers have been used to demolish properties of Muslims to terrorize them.

Regrettably, that model is now being replicated in IIOJK. It is unfortunate that Indian authorities are using land as a weopon to intimidate the people of IIOJK, she added. About the situation in Turkiye and Syria after the earthquake, the spokesperson said we are in contact with the officials there and so far there are no reports of any casualties of Pakistani nationals.  Pakistan has conveyed its deepest condolences and sympathies to the victims of the earthquake that hit parts of Türkiye, Syria and Lebanon on 6 February resulting in the loss of precious lives and extensive damage to property.

We have extended our heartfelt condolences on the tragic loss of life and offered all possible support in the relief efforts. Our support is being delivered in the form of relief assistance and rescue and support teams, she added. On recent visit of Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar to Sri Lanka she viewed that Minister of State called on President, Ranil Wickremesinghe and Prime Minister, Dinesh Gunawardena and held comprehensive talks with Foreign Minister, Ali Sabry. 

During these meetings, the two sides agreed to advance close cooperative ties; enhance understanding and cooperation on issues of global and regional significance; and intensify high-level exchanges. Important understandings were reached to increase cooperation in the fields of trade and investment, defence, education, tourism, culture and people-to-people contacts.

Responding a question, she stated that last week, Pakistan participated in the Senior Officials Meeting (SOM), Preparatory to the upcoming OIC Council of Foreign Ministers held from 5-7 February 2023 in Jeddah. The Senior Officials discussed key issues and challenges confronting the Islamic world including Palestine, the Jammu and Kashmir dispute and conflicts in Afghanistan, Syria, Libya, Mali and Yemen. The recent racist, xenophobic and Islamophobic acts of the desecration of the Holy Quran in Europe and situation of minorities in non-OIC countries were also discussed.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-INP