No rift in relations between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia: FO

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office Spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri on Thursday denied any rift in the relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

Addressing a weekly news briefing, the spokesperson said Prime Minister Imran Khan’s remarks and Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa’s just-concluded visit to Saudi Arabia testify to the unchanged fraternal relations and close contact between the two countries.

He said the visit by prime minister and the landmark visit of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman last year have further cemented relations and provided new avenues of cooperation in trade, investment and other fields.

The spokesperson said Pakistan values Saudi Arabia’s important role in the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir. He said the two countries have strong economic, political, security and military cooperation at all levels.

Answering a question about the agreement between the UAE and Israel for normalisation of relations, the spokesperson said there is no change in Pakistan’s principled position on Palestine.

He said Pakistan has an abiding commitment to full realisation of the legitimate rights of Palestinian people, including their right to self-determination for comprehensive and long-lasting peace.

He said Pakistan has consistently supported a two-state solution in accordance with UNSC and OIC resolutions as well as international law with pre-1967 borders and with Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine.

As for recent development, the spokesperson said, Pakistan’s approach will be guided by evaluation of how Palestinians’ rights and aspirations are upheld and how regional, peace and security and stability are preserved.

To another question, the spokesperson said the OIC Contact Group has held four meetings on the Kashmir issue since India’s unilateral and illegal actions on 5th August last year. He said the OIC has condemned Indian human rights violations in occupied Jammu and Kashmir and also called for resolution of the dispute.

Answering a question about ceasefire violations by India along the Line of Control, the spokesperson said India has committed 2,027 ceasefire violations this year, martyring sixteen civilians and injuring 176 others. He said India is trying to divert world attention from Kashmir issue.

The spokesperson said a senior Indian diplomat was summoned to Foreign Office this morning as well to register Pakistan’s protest over unprovoked ceasefire violations along the LoC.

Responding to a question about Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, he said India is not cooperating with the Pakistani courts.