Day: September 2, 2021

Islamabad, September 02, 2021 (PPI-OT):Veteran Kashmiri leader Syed Ali Shah Gilani passed away last night at his home in Srinagar, at the age of 92. Syed Ali Gilani was born on September 29, 1929 to Syed Peer Shah Gilani of Zoori Munz village in Tehsil Bandipora. Gilani received his early education at Sopore, and finished his studies at the Oriental College, Lahore Pakistan. He spent his boyhood in the headquarters of Plebiscite Front at Mujahid Manzil.

President Dr Arif Alvi expressing deep grief and sorrow over the sad demise of the veteran leader Syed Ali Shah Gilani, said Kashmir is deprived of a great leader who remained steadfast against the Indian imperialism all his life. In a condolence statement, he said Ali Gilani was a brave, courageous and sincere leader. He prayed Allah Almighty to rest the departed soul in eternal peace.

Prime Minister Imran Khan in a statement said, the passing of Kashmiri freedom fighter Syed Ali Gilani who struggled all his life for his people and their right to self-determination, deeply saddened him. He said Gilani suffered incarceration and torture by the occupying Indian state, but remained resolute.

The Prime Minister said ‘we in Pakistan salute his courageous struggle and remember his words, “Hum Pakistani hain aur Pakistan hamara hai.” He said the Pakistan flag will fly at half-mast and the country will observe a day of official mourning.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said, Pakistan mourns the loss of Syed Ali Shah Gillani, the torch bearer of the Kashmir freedom movement, who fought for the rights of Kashmiris till the very end, under house arrest of Indian occupation.

Pakistan has expressed the deeply mourn on the death of the iconic leader of the Kashmiri resistance, Syed Ali Shah Gillani, who was under prolonged house arrest in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Expressing the condolence, Foreign Office Spokesperson Asim Iftikhar Ahmad in a tweet said the nation pays rich tribute to his life-long struggle for justice and freedom.

He said Ali Gillani, the true voice and hero of the Kashmiris’ struggle for self-determination, inspired three generations of Kashmiris in resisting the illegal Indian occupation and unabated tyranny. He prayed may his soul rest in Peace, and continue to be an inspiration for those carrying his mission forward to bring to an end the illegal Indian occupation of Jammu and Kashmir.

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain and Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib have expressed grief and sorrow over the sad demise of veteran Kashmiri leader Syed Ali Gillani. In his video message the Information Minister said the sad news of Gillani’s death has shocked and saddened the people of Kashmir as well as Pakistan.

He said the candle to fight against Indian tyranny lit by Syed Ali Gillani in Kashmir would continue till winning independence. Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi has expressed grief and sorrow over the death of Senior Kashmiri leader Syed Ali Gillani.

In a statement, he said the death of Syed Ali Gillani has deprived Kashmiri people of a great Hurriyat leader. The Naval Chief said Syed Ali Gillani was a shining star of Kashmiri freedom movement. He said his sacrifices for the freedom movement will always be remembered.

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, September 02, 2021 (PPI-OT):Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has said that Chaman border with Afghanistan may be closed for some days due to some threats. Talking to the media persons in Islamabad on Thursday, he said our forces are present at the border. We are proud of our security institutions for the service they are rendering for the security of the country. The Interior Minister said Pakistan desires peace and stability in Afghanistan. He said peace in Afghanistan is important for peace in Pakistan.

Responding to a question, the Interior Minister said it is not time for long march rather we have to sit together to take forward the country and deal with the challenges. He said the opposition may hold the long march within the ambit of law but nobody will be allowed to play with the law and order situation.

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, September 02, 2021 (PPI-OT):Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has underlined the need for sustained engagement by international community, as shared responsibility, to help Afghanistan on its path to peace, stability and prosperity. Addressing sixth Think Tank Forum through video link on Thursday, he said we believe that the biggest opportunity right now is convergence of the international community on the need of durable peace and stability in Afghanistan.

The Minister said a sustained engagement will ensure steady transition and avoid repeat of 1990s. He said Afghan people must not be abandoned at this crucial stage. Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Pakistan will continue to play the role of a facilitator.

He said we consider Taliban’s announcements positive and encouraging. He said the Afghan leadership should take the responsibility of delivering on the demands of the Afghan people, reconcile their differences and achieve a negotiated political situation, a long-cherished objective. The Foreign Minister said inclusive set-up is important for Taliban to gain people’s confidence and international acceptability. It will open new vistas of cooperation at regional and international level.

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, September 02, 2021 (PPI-OT):Prime Minister Imran Khan performed the ground-breaking of sixty-nine kilometers long Sialkot-Kharian motorway project in Islamabad on Thursday. Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said this is an important and viable motorway project as it will promote connectivity of the industrial area with the rest of the country.

The Prime Minister said it is important to incentivize the industrial sector for wealth creation which will help retiring the country’s debt. He said the government is focusing on ease of doing business and hurdles in the way of Small and Medium enterprises are being removed.

The Prime Minister was appreciative of the idea of involving the private sector in the motorway project saying this will help the government divert resources to other areas. He was confident that more private capital will flow into the road infrastructure projects in future.

Imran Khan said that the Swat motorway has opened the whole area for tourism. He said Pakistan has immense potential for tourism but it was not developed in the past. He said projects such as second phase of Swat motorway and Dir Motorway will help encourage both domestic and foreign tourism at the picturesque places.

Earlier, Minister for Communications Murad Saeed gave a detailed overview of the road infrastructure projects executed over the last three years. He said we have built 1753 kilometers of roads as compared to 645 kilometers of roads constructed by the PML (N) in three years. He said we plan to start nineteen more road infrastructure projects including Kharian-Rawalpindi motorway and Sukkur-Hyderabad motorway during the current fiscal year. He said bids have been received for the construction of second phase of Swat motorway. Work on Dir motorway will also be started this year.

The Minister for Communications said National Highway Authority is also focusing on the maintenance and repair of existing road infrastructure. As regards the revenue of the NHA, he said this has been increased by eighty seven billion rupees. He said we have also recovered land worth five billion rupees.

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, September 02, 2021 (PPI-OT):Pakistan strongly condemns the barbaric act of snatching of the mortal remains of the iconic Kashmiri leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani from his family by the Indian Occupation Forces early this morning. As the family was preparing for the last rites of Syed Geelani, a heavy contingent of the Occupation Forces raided his residence in Srinagar, harassed the family members and snatched Syed Gilani’s body.

When the family members told the raiding party that Syed Gilani’s will was to be buried in the “Cemetery of Martyrs” in Srinagar, they were reportedly told that India would not allow Syed Gilani’s burial at the place of his choosing.

Government of India is so afraid of Syed Geelani and what he stood for that they have now resorted to this inhuman act even after his passing away. This shows the degree of callousness on part of the Occupation Forces and demonstrates beyond doubt that India would trample all civil and human values in perpetuating its occupation of IIOJK.

Indian media subsequently reported that Syed Geelani has been buried. A curfew has been imposed in the valley and all internet services snapped. International community must take serious note of this unprecedented and egregious situation in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and hold India to account for its breaches of the international human rights and humanitarian laws.

For more information, contact:
Spokesman
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Government of Pakistan
Tell: +92-51-9205494
Fax: +92-51-9204202
Cell: +92-336-5644459
Website: www.mofa.gov.pk

Islamabad, September 02, 2021 (PPI-OT):Let me begin by congratulating the host for organizing a session on such an important issue.

We are witnessing momentous events in our neighbourhood, which have far-reaching implications for the region and the international community as a whole.

The situation demands following a carefully calibrated policy to avoid pitfalls and achieve what we have been pursuing for the last many years: a stable, peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan.

Before I highlight salient points of our policy on Afghanistan, a few comments on the current situation will give an idea on our policy.

The international coalition pursued a military approach to achieve peace in Afghanistan for two decades, which, I don’t think was based on ground realities.

Insistence on military solution brought the political process to a head.

The Doha peace agreement brought a new hope for the Afghanistan leaders.

Unfortunately, Intra-Afghan Negotiations made little headway.

The absence of an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned negotiated political settlement, coupled with withdrawal of international forces, created a whole new set of challenges and opportunities for Afghan leadership.

The lack of resistance by the Afghan security forces and the speed of Taliban’s take-over of Kabul have surprised international community.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Since taking over, Taliban have made a series of announcements on general amnesty, protection of women’s rights, freedom of speech, employment and access to education and openness to an inclusive political dispensation.

Taliban are in talks with Afghan leaders on the future political setup. We wish them success.

However, the situation, as it stands today, is fragile.

The unfortunate loss of more than 170 lives in two dastardly attacks by IS near Kabul airport is a grim reminder of fragility of situation.

More than ever, the situation demands Afghan leaders to exhibit wisdom.

It also requires sustained engagement by international community, as shared responsibility, to help Afghanistan on its path to peace, stability and prosperity.

Failure is not an option.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Pakistan was the only country that consistently maintained that there was no military solution to the Afghan conflict.

Pakistan, with its firm belief in a negotiated political settlement, supported the U.S.-Taliban direct talks, leading to Intra-Afghan Negotiations.

We also continued to voice that the withdrawal of international forces should have proceeded in tandem with progress in the Intra-Afghan Negotiations.

We also supported a responsible and orderly withdrawal to ensure smooth transition.

We have suffered the most after Afghanistan, both in terms of casualties and huge loss to the economy.

No other country has a greater interest in peace and stability in Afghanistan than Pakistan.

Continuation of conflict and instability in Afghanistan is certainly not in our interest.

We consider all segment of Afghan society important in the overall construct of Afghanistan.

Every Afghan, be it from Tajik community, Uzbek or Turkmen or Pashtun; they all are part of a beautiful mosaic.

We reached out to all ethnic communities to reiterate our support to a united and peaceful Afghanistan.

In the present circumstance, we have continued our support for an inclusive setup in Afghanistan, as the best way forward.

We consider Taliban’s announcements positive and encouraging.

The Afghan leadership should take the responsibility of delivering on the demands of the Afghan people, reconcile their differences and achieve a negotiated political situation, a long-cherished objective.

Inclusive set-up is important for Taliban to gain people’s confidence and international acceptability.

It will open new vistas of cooperation at regional and international level.

It will help realize our common objectives of a region, free from scourge of terrorism, strongly linked with the international community through a web of connectivity projects.

Given our renewed focus on ‘geo-economics,’ we feel that the dividends of ‘regional’ connectivity cannot be realized without enduring peace in Afghanistan.

To achieve the above, it is extremely important for the international community to remain engaged with Afghanistan.

We believe that the biggest opportunity right now is convergence of the international community on the need of durable peace and stability in Afghanistan.

A sustained engagement will ensure steady transition and avoid repeat of 1990s.

Afghan people must not be abandoned at this crucial stage.

Pakistan will continue to play the role of a ‘facilitator’; however, our role must not be misconstrued as that of a guarantor.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me brief you on my recent visit to neighbours of Afghanistan.

I visited Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan and Iran, where I had extensive discussion with the leadership of those countries on our common concerns and the need for a regional approach.

My visit was focused on following three tracks:

Facilitate political resolution of the Afghan conflict and help achieve an inclusive political settlement.

Intensify cooperation among neighbours in the areas of security, counter-terrorism and border mechanisms to deal with smuggling, human trafficking and flow of refugees;

Promote regional trade, transit, infrastructure, energy corridor, and business linkages and people-to-people contacts through Afghanistan with Central Asia, reflecting our policy of geo-economics.

I found complete convergence on our common concerns among neighbours of Afghanistan.

We plan to intensify our regional approach in the coming days with series of high-level engagements.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

A few words on our facilitation to international community in their plan to evacuate diplomats and staff, representatives of international organizations, INGOs, the media

We have established a Special Inter-Ministerial Facilitation Cell to facilitate visa and arrival matters.

Pakistan Embassy in Kabul is issuing visas on a fast-track basis.

Visa on arrival is being issued at Pakistan’s international airports.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We hope for a peaceful, stable, united and prosperous Afghanistan, contributing to regional peace, economic integration and connectivity.

Together, it is possible. Our joint efforts can help us.

I will close my remarks here by reaffirming our commitment to work together with the international community to advance the shared objectives of peace, progress and stability in Afghanistan.

Thank you very much.

For more information, contact:
Spokesman
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Government of Pakistan
Tell: +92-51-9205494
Fax: +92-51-9204202
Cell: +92-336-5644459
Website: www.mofa.gov.pk

Islamabad, September 02, 2021 (PPI-OT):The Government and people of Pakistan deeply mourn the passing away of the iconic leader of the Kashmiri resistance, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, under prolonged house arrest in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

The nation pays rich tribute to his life-long struggle for justice and freedom. Syed Ali Shah Gilani’s unflinching commitment to the Kashmir cause, in the face of persistent persecution and tremendous personal hardship, is unparalleled. He inspired three generations of Kashmiris in resisting the illegal Indian occupation and unabated tyranny.

He was a true voice and hero of the Kashmiris’ struggle for self-determination, who never lost his ideological moorings for a single moment. Upright and steadfast, he would never compromise on the just cause that he led throughout his life from the core of his heart.

He will be remembered for his unconditional love for Kashmir and Pakistan. May his soul Rest In Peace and may he continue to be an inspiration for those carrying his mission forward to bring an end to illegal Indian occupation of Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan will continue to extend all possible support to the Kashmiri people till the realization of their legitimate right to self-determination as enshrined in the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

For more information, contact:
Principal Information Officer,
Press Information Department (PID)
Tel: +92-51-9252323, +92-51-9252324
Fax: +92-51-9252325, +92-51-9252326
Email: piopid@gmail.com
Website: www.pid.gov.pk