As world leaders converge in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the 28th Conference of Parties (COP28), Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that no meeting is planned between the India and Pakistani leadership.
“No meeting is planned between Pak-India leadership in Dubai,” said Baloch during her weekly press briefing.
The spokesperson’s comment comes as Caretaker Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar is in the UAE to represent Pakistan.
At the same time, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also in the UAE for the COP28 summit.
Earlier the PM Office, in a statement on the visit, said that the premier would hold meetings with various world leaders on the sidelines of the conference without naming them.
Repatriation of illegal Afghans
In the press conference, the spokesperson also spoke on the repatriation of illegal Afghans back to Afghanistan.
The spokesperson said that Pakistan feels “satisfied” with the process, adding that a large number of illegal Afghans were returning voluntarily.
“Afghanistan has been facing problems for a long time. The international community should help the Afghan nation and government in rebuilding [process],” said the spokesperson. She added that Pakistan sympathises with the uncertain situation in Afghanistan.
Moreover, the spokesperson shared that Afghan citizens who have been repatriated to Afghanistan can return to Pakistan but with a valid visa.
“Pakistan is concerned about the use of Afghan soil on terrorist incidents in Pakistan. It is hoped that the Afghan authorities will take action against the TTP terrorists involved in terrorism in Pakistan,” said Baloch.
Pakistan delivering aid to Gaza via Rafah Crossing
The spokesperson, while reiterating Islamabad’s call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, shared that Pakistan was delivering aid to Gaza through Rafah Crossing — the besieged strip’s border with Egypt.
Baloch also shared that the world was facing difficulties in delivering aid to Gaza due to the Israeli blockade on the strip.
The spokesperson’s comments came after a seven-day truce between Israel and Hamas ended with a resumption of the fighting in Gaza.
The seven-day pause, which began on Nov 24 and was extended twice, had allowed for the exchange of dozens of hostages held in Gaza for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and facilitated the entry of humanitarian aid into the shattered coastal strip.
Israel has sworn to annihilate Hamas, which rules Gaza, in response to the October 7 attack by the group, when Israel says gunmen killed 1,200 people and took 240 hostages.
Israel retaliated with intense bombardment and a ground invasion. Palestinian health authorities say more than 15,000 Gazans have been confirmed killed since the Israeli onslaught.
