Khaleej Times

For lasting peace, Al Quds must be declared capital of Palestine

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islamabad — The first phase of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would be completed by 2020 while the entire project would be functional by 2030, Foreign Office Spokespers­on, Dr Mohammed Faisal said on Thursday.

During his weekly Press briefing in Foreign Office, Dr Faisal said that Pakistan and China regularly monitor the progress of these projects, adding that the decision to bring more projects and highways under CPEC would be taken by the two countries with consensus.

He said that visas have been issued to the wife and mother of the convicted RAW agent Kulbhushan Jadhav and their meeting would take place in Islamabad on December 25.

Replying to a question, he said the meeting between Kalbhushan and his family will be held in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“There has so far been no decision on the implementa­tion of the spy’s death sentence”, he informed. Dr Faisal said that Pakistan views the issue of Occupied Jerusalem as the violation of relevant resolution of the United Nation Security Council (UNSC).

“The only lasting solution for peace in the region lies in Al Quds being the capital of a free Palestine state”, he added.

The spokespers­on said that Pakistan has repeatedly raised its serious concerns with the Afghan government and the US about the presence of Daesh in Afghanista­n.

He said a large part of Afghan territory was not under control of Kabul and was being used for terrorism in Pakistan. “We have conveyed our reservatio­ns to Afghanista­n in this regard and expect that it will take some corrective steps in this regard”, he added.

Replying to another question, he said that India’s nefarious design has led to the dysfunctio­nality of the Indus Water Treaty.

He said that the exclusion of ‘list of terrorists’ from the recently-held Heart of Asia conference statement has given Pakistan a major win at the diplomatic front. “The list was to be used by India for propaganda purpose against Pakistan”, he added.

Dr Faisal emphasised that the fate of Indian-Occupied Kashmir can not be decided by the orders of Indian courts but under the UN resolution­s in this regard.

He said that Indian atrocities on innocent and defenceles­s Kashmiris continued unabated this week as well resulting in martyrdom of four people along with continued house arrest and illegal detention of Hurriyat leadership which is highly condemnabl­e and against basic human rights and internatio­nal law.

He said Pakistan has decided to release 291 Indian fishermen in two phases as a goodwill gesture on humanitari­an grounds.

He said that Pakistan strongly believes that a political solution to the ongoing Yemen crisis is the only way to ensure regional peace and stability. The spokespers­on also condemned the recent missile attack on Saudi Arabia. — APP

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