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ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office (FO) of Pakistan Thursday clarified that the country intends to remain impartial in the ongoing “cold war” between the United States and China. Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch emphasized that Pakistan values its strong relationships with both nations and has no intentions of aligning with any particular bloc.
During the weekly media briefing, Baloch reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to advancing its friendships with China and the United States without any hindrances. She underscored the importance of nurturing these bilateral ties and expressed hope for further strengthening them.
The spokesperson dismissed speculations that Pakistan may succumb to pressure from either side to choose a particular camp. Baloch referred to a recent statement by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar, where she urged against pushing Pakistan into the cold war between the US and China. Baloch clarified that Khar’s statement was made in the context of international developments and reiterated Pakistan’s stance of not wishing to be part of any bloc.
Addressing concerns about negotiations with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Baloch reiterated Pakistan’s firm stance of not engaging in talks with individuals responsible for the killing of Pakistani civilians and law enforcement officials. She also refrained from commenting on the Taliban’s interim government’s policy towards the TTP, stating that it is not Pakistan’s place to speculate on the internal political dynamics of Afghanistan. However, she highlighted the joint commitment shared by Pakistan, China, and Afghanistan in countering terrorist entities that pose a threat to Pakistan.
In other news, Pakistan has received an official invitation to the virtual summit of the Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), scheduled to take place on July 4 in India. Baloch confirmed Pakistan’s participation in the summit, with further details to be announced in the coming days.
Regarding the recent boat wreck incident in Greece, Baloch informed that investigations are underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident, including the operation of the boat and the individuals responsible. The Greek authorities are currently handling the situation, and the process of identifying the deceased through DNA matching is ongoing. Baloch expressed Pakistan’s regret at being unable to verify the number and identity of Pakistani nationals among the deceased and missing.
Baloch refrained from commenting on the role of the Greek coastguard and stressed that it is premature to draw any conclusions about the incident. She assured that Pakistan is in contact with Greek authorities, cooperating in the ongoing investigation.
Addressing the matter of the missing Titan submarine, which includes two Pakistani crew members, Baloch stated that Pakistan’s concerned missions in the US and Canada are closely monitoring the developments. She expressed confidence in the local authorities’ effective handling of the situation and emphasized the need to respect the privacy of the Dawood family, who are affected by the incident.
Additionally, the 13th session of the Pakistan-EU Joint Commission is currently underway in Brussels. Discussions have taken place on various topics, including the Pakistan-EU Development Partnership, the Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP) Plus, market access for Pakistan, and democracy, governance, rule of law, and human rights. The plenary session, scheduled for Friday, will delve into migration and mobility, climate change, as well as cooperation in education, culture, science, and information technology.
