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EMBASSY OF PAKISTAN
NEWSLETTERJune 2020
Copyright © 2020 Embassy of Pakistan, All Rights Reserved.
TABLE OF CONTENTS 2
AMBASSADOR’S MESSAGE 4
EMBASSY OUTREACH DURING COVID-19 CRISIS
EMBASSY FACILITATES REPATRIATION OF PAKISTANIS STRANDED IN THE US 5
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
AMBASSADOR PARTICIPATES IN A VIRTUAL SESSION OF GLOBAL PAKISTAN TECH SUMMIT 6TITLED “ENABLING TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER FROM SILICON VALLEY TO PAKISTAN”
MEDIA OUTREACH
AMBASSADOR’S INTERVIEW WITH ‘NASDAQ TV’ 7
AMBASSADOR’S INTERVIEW WITH ‘THE BANKER’ 7
EMBASSY LAUNCHES OFFICIAL INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT 8
PAKISTAN-US RELATIONS
CONDOLENCE MESSAGES ON KARACHI STOCK EXCHANGE TERRORIST ATTACK 9
AFGHANISTAN PEACE PROCESS
U.S. SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR AFGHANISTAN CALLS ON FOREIGN MINISTER 10
PAKISTAN APPOINTS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR AFGHANISTAN 10
SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR AFGHANISTAN VISITS DOHA 10
KASHMIR IN JUNE
PRIME MINISTER’S TWEETS ON KASHMIR 11
FOREIGN MINISTER’S TWEETS ON KASHMIR 12
GOVERNMENT OF PAKISTAN’S TWEET ON KASHMIR 12
U.S. DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE & FORMER VICE PRESIDENT HIGHLIGHTS 13INDIA’S REPRESSION IN IOJK
EMERGENCY VIRTUAL MEETING OF THE OIC CONTACT GROUP ON JAMMU & KASHMIR 13
INDIAN-OCCUPIED JAMMU & KASHMIR REMAINS UNDER CONTINUOUS INHUMAN 14LOCKDOWN FOR 10 MONTHS
PAKISTAN REJECTS THE ILLEGAL GRANT OF IOJK DOMICILE CERTIFICATES TO 14
INDIAN NATIONALS
PAKISTAN STRONGLY CONDEMNS UNABATED EXTRA-JUDICIAL KILLINGS BY INDIAN 14OCCUPATION FORCES IN IOJK
Copyright © 2020 Embassy of Pakistan, All Rights Reserved.
TABLE OF CONTENTS(Continued)
3
KASHMIR IN U.S. MEDIA
NARENDRA MODI'S AGGRESSION AGAINST MUSLIMS MUST BE STOPPED 15
| UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL
OUTRAGE OVER AN ELEPHANT AND CELEBRITIES EMBRACING BLACK LIVES 15
MATTER EXPOSE INDIA’S DEEP HYPOCRISY | THE WASHINGTON POST
BEYOND THE HEADLINES
PAKISTANI TRUCK ARTIST PAINTS GEORGE FLOYD MURAL ON HIS HOME 16
Copyright © 2020 Embassy of Pakistan, All Rights Reserved.
Dear Friends,
During the month of June, the Embassy continued its special PIA charter flights for stranded Pakistanis from the U.S. to Pakistan. This month, three flights were arranged, including two from Newark, NJ (June 1 and June 27) and one from Chicago (June 14). Since the special flight operation began on May 10, 2020, a total of 7 flights have so far been operated to repatriate Pakistanis from the U.S.
As part of our outreach activities, I participated in a virtual session of “Global Pakistan Tech Summit” where I highlighted Pakistan’s potential in the tech sector and how this could play a vital role in enhancing Pakistan-U.S. trade. I also had the opportunity to speak on NASDAQ TV and to be interviewed by “The Banker”. In both media interactions, I highlighted the Government’s efforts to combat the economic fallout of COVID-19, including the Prime Minister’s Global Debt Relief Initiative.
AMBASSADOR’S MESSAGE 4
Dr. Asad Majeed KhanAmbassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the United States
Our efforts for facilitating a lasting peace in Afghanistan continue. This month, U.S. Special Envoy Zalmay Khalilzad paid a visit to Islamabad and met with the Pakistani leadership to exchange views on the latest situation in Afghanistan. Pakistan also appointed Ambassador Mohammad Sadiq as Special Representative on Afghanistan. Many of you may recall Ambassador Sadiq who had served as Deputy Chief of Mission in Washington between 2002-2005. Pakistan remains committed to working with the U.S. and all other stakeholders to facilitate peace efforts in Afghanistan.
In a significant development, former Vice President Joe Biden also issued a statement calling on India to restore the rights of Kashmiri people and expressing his disappointment on other oppressive measures of the Indian Government against minorities such as the NRC in Assam and CAA.
Meanwhile, Indian barbaric actions continued to dominate the headline during the month of June. The OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir held a virtual session to discuss the worsening situation in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister of Pakistan highlighted the plight of the innocent Kashmiri people on every forum and called on the international community including the UN to urge India to end this violence.
As we transition into the month of July, I wish my American friends a happy Independence Day!
Copyright © 2020 Embassy of Pakistan, All Rights Reserved.
EMBASSY OUTREACH DURINGCOVID-19 CRISIS
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EMBASSY FACILITATES REPATRIATION OF PAKISTANIS STRANDED IN THE U.SGovernment of Pakistan’s arranged 03 special PIA charter flights to facilitate Pakistanis stranded in the US during the month of June 2020. Two charter planes took off from Newark Airport, New Jersey on 1st June and 27th June, 2020 bound for Islamabad and Lahore respectively. The passengers were seen off by Consul General Ayesha Ali and officers & staff of Pakistan Consulate New York.
An additional charter flight departed O’Hare International Airport, Chicago on 14th June, 2020 for Islamabad. Consul General Javed Ahmed Umrani reviewed the steps taken for repatriation at the airport and saw off the passengers.
The government has thus far arranged 07 flights to facilitate Pakistanis stranded in the US during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Copyright © 2020 Embassy of Pakistan, All Rights Reserved.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
AMBASSADOR PARTICIPATES IN A VIRTUAL SESSION OF GLOBAL PAKISTAN TECH SUMMIT TITLED “ENABLING TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER FROM SILICON VALLEY TO PAKISTAN”
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Ambassador Dr. Asad M. Khan participated in a virtual session of Global Pakistan Tech Summit titled “Enabling Technology Transfer from Silicon Valley to Pakistan” on 24 June, 2020. He shared Pakistan's perspective on the potential of technology sector in enhancing bilateral trade between Pakistan and the US.
The Acting Charge d’ Affaires of U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, John Hoover also participated in the discussion. He acknowledged the deep pool of talent and entrepreneurial culture in Pakistan and stressed the need for U.S. and Pakistan cooperation towards providing an enabling environment for small businesses and startups.
Read details here.
Copyright © 2020 Embassy of Pakistan, All Rights Reserved.
MEDIA OUTREACH 7
AMBASSADOR’S INTERVIEW WITH ‘NASDAQ TV’
Ambassador Dr. Asad Majeed Khan joined Jill Malandrino on Nasdaq ‘TradeTalks’ to speak about Pakistan Government’s measures against COVID-19 and Prime Minister’s Global Debt Relief Initiative. He also discussed the importance of international economic and healthcare relief for developing countries fighting COVID-19.
Ambassador said that enhancing fiscal capacity is fundamental to recovery from the ongoing pandemic Watch the interview here.
AMBASSADOR’S INTERVIEW WITH ‘THE BANKER’
Ambassador Dr. Asad Majeed Khan gave an interview to Kimberly Long of ‘TheBanker’ about COVIDー19’s economic implications for Pakistan and countries around the world. Ambassador said that debt relief could support developing countries through Covid-19 crisis.
Listen to the full interview here.
Copyright © 2020 Embassy of Pakistan, All Rights Reserved.
MEDIA OUTREACH
EMBASSY LAUNCHES OFFICIAL INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT
The Embassy of Pakistan launched its official instagram account on June 22, 2020 to increase its digital footprint in the sphere of social media.
Please follow us at @PakistanEmbassyUS for the latest news and events.
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Copyright © 2020 Embassy of Pakistan, All Rights Reserved.
PAKISTAN-US RELATIONS 9
CONDOLENCE MESSAGES ON KARACHI STOCK EXCHANGE TERRORIST ATTACK
Copyright © 2020 Embassy of Pakistan, All Rights Reserved.
AFGHANISTAN PEACE PROCESS 10
U.S. SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR AFGHAN RECONCILIATION CALLS ON FOREIGN MINISTER
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi received Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation in Islamabad. The Foreign Minister highlighted Pakistan’s positive contribution to the U.S.-Taliban direct talks culminating in the Peace Agreement of 29 February 2020 and stressed that the Afghan leaders should seize this historic opportunity and work together to ensure a comprehensive and inclusive political settlement. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad expressed condolences on the loss of lives in the terrorists attack on Pakistan Stock Exchange in Karachi and extended U.S. support. The Foreign Minister praised the bravery of the security personnel and thanked Ambassador Khalilzad for support against this terrorist attack, which was externally supported.
Read details here.
PAKISTAN APPOINTS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR AFGHANISTAN
The Government of Pakistan has appointed Ambassador (R) Mohammad Sadiq as Special Representative for Afghanistan.Ambassador (R) Sadiq, an officer of the Foreign Service of Pakistan, has wide-ranging experience in diplomacy, including extensive expertise on Afghanistan, where he served as Pakistan’s Ambassador from 2008-2014. Read more here.
SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR AFGHANISTAN VISITS DOHA
Special Representative for Afghanistan, Ambassador (R) Muhammad Sadiq visited Doha, Qatar on 16-17 June 2020. During the visit, he met Taliban leaders including Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar to discuss peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan.
The Special Representative underlined that Pakistan will continue to play its role as facilitator for peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan. In this context, he referred to the highly productive visit of the Chief of Army Staff to Kabul recently, which had imparted a new impetus to Pakistan’s efforts
Read more here..
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KASHMIR IN JUNE 11
PRIME MINISTER’S TWEETS
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KASHMIR IN JUNE 12
FOREIGN MINISTER’S TWEETS ON KASHMIR
GOVERNMENT OF PAKISTAN’S TWEET ON KASHMIR
Copyright © 2020 Embassy of Pakistan, All Rights Reserved.
KASHMIR IN JUNE
U.S. DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE & FORMER VICE PRESIDENT HIGHLIGHTS INDIA’S REPRESSION IN IOJK
Democratic presidential nominee and former vice president, Joe Biden, has highlighted India's repression in IOJK in his party's policy paper, with a call on New Delhi to take necessary steps to restore the rights of Kashmiri people.
The paper, entitled 'Joe Biden’s agenda for the Muslim American communities' posted on his campaign website reads:
“In Kashmir, the Indian government should take all necessary steps to restore rights for all the people of Kashmir. Restrictions on dissent, such as preventing peaceful protests or shutting or slowing down the Internet, weaken democracy. Joe Biden has been disappointed by the measures that the government of India has taken with the implementation and aftermath of the National Register of Citizens in Assam and the passage of the Citizenship Amendment Act into law. These measures are inconsistent with the country’s long tradition of secularism and with sustaining a multi-ethnic and multi-religious democracy.”
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EMERGENCY VIRTUAL MEETING OF THE OIC CONTACT GROUP ON JAMMU & KASHMIR
On Pakistan’s call, an Emergency virtual meeting of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu & Kashmir was held at the Ministerial level on 22 June, 2020, to take up the worsening situation in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&K).
In his opening remarks, the OIC Secretary General stressed the OIC’s commitment to finding peaceful settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the UN, Islamic Summits and CFMs.
Foreign Minister of Pakistan Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi apprised the participants of the prevailing situation in IOJ&K and conveyed Pakistan’s deep concerns over recently introduced new domicile rules to change the demographic structure of IOJ&K.
Read Foreign Minister’s remarks here.
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KASHMIR IN JUNE 14
INDIAN-OCCUPIED JAMMU & KASHMIR REMAINS UNDER CONTINUOUS INHUMAN LOCKDOWN FOR 10 MONTHS
June 5 marked completion of 10 months of continuous inhuman lockdown, military siege, communications blockade and unprecedented restrictions in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&K) imposed by Indian occupation forces, following India’s illegal and unilateral actions of 5 August 2019.
During the past 10 months, Indian occupation forces have violated every single right of the Kashmiri people and tried every possible tool of oppression to perpetuate India’s illegal occupation of IOJ&K.
The international community including the United Nations must take immediate cognizance of the gravity of human rights situation in IOJ&K and hold India accountable for its crimes against the Kashmiri people.
For its part, Pakistan reaffirms full support to Kashmiri people in their just struggle till the realization of their right to self-determination as enshrined in the relevant United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolutions. Read the full press release here.
PAKISTAN REJECTS THE ILLEGAL GRANT OF IOJK DOMICILE CERTIFICATES TO
INDIAN NATIONALS
The certificates issued to non-Kashmiris including, among others, the Indian government officials under “Jammu and Kashmir Grant of Domicile Certificate (Procedure), 2020” are illegal, void and in complete violation of the relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions, and International law including the 4th Geneva Convention.
India must be urged to immediately cancel all the domicile certificates of IOJ&K issued illegally, revoke unlawful rules aimed at further disempowering and disenfranchising the Kashmiris by effecting a demographic change, and comply with its international legal obligations through implementation of the relevant UNSC Resolutions. Read more here.
PAKISTAN STRONGLY CONDEMNS UNABATED EXTRA-JUDICIAL KILLINGS BY INDIAN OCCUPATION FORCES IN IOJK
More than 110 innocent Kashmiris have been martyred by the Indian occupation forces during the past 5 months in fake “encounters” and so-called “cordon-and-search” operations.
International law prohibits the arbitrary deprivation of life and extra-judicial killings. No illegal Act, such as the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), can sanctify or provide legal cover to a crime recognized as such by international law.
The international community must take immediate cognizance of the persistent reports of arbitrary and extra-judicial killings in IOJ&K, falsely labelled as having been the result of “encounters” or as having occurred in “cross-fire.” The virtual impunity of the Indian occupation forces must end and the perpetrators must be held accountable for such heinous crimes against the Kashmiri people. India must fully comply with its international legal obligations.Read more here.
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KASHMIR IN U.S. MEDIA 15
NARENDRA MODI'S AGGRESSION AGAINST MUSLIMS MUST BE STOPPED | UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL
By Col. Wes Martin | June 8, 2020
Prior to Hitler's seizing of Czechoslovakia, civil unrest was created in the country by German agitators. Indian operatives have done the same in Jammu and Kashmir.
Beyond words, pressure needs to be brought against Modi and his government. Until his aggression and genocide are stopped, Albert Einstein's warning will prevail: "The world is a dangerous place, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who do nothing about it."
Read the full article here.
OUTRAGE OVER AN ELEPHANT AND CELEBRITIESEMBRACING BLACK LIVES MATTER EXPOSE INDIA’S DEEP HYPOCRISY | THE WASHINGTON POST
Opinion by Rana Ayyub | Global Opinions contributing writer | June 6, 2020
A country that rose in solidarity for a dead elephant looks the other way as Zargar waits in an overcrowded prison during a pandemic. (Safoora Zargar, a 27-year-old Kashmiri student activist who is five months pregnant and has been in jail while suffering complications due to polycystic ovary syndrome.)
Zargar is in prison while the real intellectual architects of the recent anti-Muslim carnage that rocked Delhi in February, and took more than 50 lives, remain in the highest positions of power as officials in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. Some have openly urged their supporters to shoot “traitors.”
As many Indians wear the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag as a fashion accessory, they remain oblivious to the fact that the ugly faces of majoritarian privilege and discrimination have been present in their home country for a long, long time.
It’s time Indians stop worshiping false heroes and correct the course of our languishing democracy. The events of the last week have exposed a brutal double standard, as we remain indifferent to the trauma of Zargar and thousands like her, who have faced systemic injustice for generations.
Read the full article here.
Copyright © 2020 Embassy of Pakistan, All Rights Reserved.
BEYOND THE HEADLINES 16
PAKISTANI TRUCK ARTIST PAINTS GEORGE FLOYD MURAL ON HIS HOME
By The Associated Press | June 12, 2020
Pakistani truck-art artist Haider Ali paints the portrait of George Floyd on the wall of his home in Karachi, Pakistan. The mural is a tribute to George Floyd, a black man who died after being restrained by police officers in Minneapolis, USA.
“This is a message of peace and love to all,” Ali told The Associated Press on Friday, as he put the finishing touches on the mural. “It’s not from an individual, this message of love is from all of Pakistan.”
Read the full story here.
Compiled and edited by the Information Wing, Embassy of Pakistan, Washington, DC.
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