"Urgent plea: Global focus needed on US arms abandoned in Afghanistan."

 "Urgent plea: Global focus needed on US arms abandoned in Afghanistan."

"FO Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch addresses border situation."

In an official statement issued today, the Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, addressed the escalating tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. The spokesperson expressed grave concerns about the situation, emphasizing that the world must turn its attention to the alarming development of weapons left behind in Afghanistan during the US withdrawal now falling into the hands of Afghan terrorists.

During the weekly media briefing held in Islamabad, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch reaffirmed Pakistan's unwavering commitment to combat terrorism within its borders. She highlighted the proactive stance of Pakistan's security agencies in eradicating this menace. Moreover, the FO spokesperson revealed that Pakistan had already conveyed its concerns to the interim Afghan government regarding the recent incidents along the shared border.

Mumtaz Zahra Baloch went on to explain that Pakistan had raised the issue of cross-border terrorist attacks emanating from Afghanistan with the relevant Afghan authorities. She clarified that Pakistan was not assigning blame but underlined the pressing need for global attention on the weapons abandoned in Afghanistan, now exploited by various terrorist groups.

Switching gears, the FO announced that the Caretaker Foreign Minister, Jalil Abbas Jilani, is set to preside over the Commonwealth Youth Ministerial Conference in London from September 12 to 15. This conference will provide an opportunity for diplomatic engagement with leaders from diverse nations.

Turning to the pressing matter of human rights violations in the Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir of India (IIOJK), Mumtaz Zahra Baloch informed the media about letters from international human rights organizations addressed to G20 countries. These letters detailed restrictions on freedom of expression and the ongoing atrocities in the region. The spokesperson called upon the Indian government to focus on addressing the challenges faced by its own people rather than making unwarranted comments about Pakistan.

When questioned about Pakistan's current economic situation, Baloch opted not to comment. She did, however, mention the significant relationship between Pakistan and Russia and the ongoing efforts by the caretaker foreign minister to finalize arrangements for an upcoming UK visit.

The briefing also touched on the recent Torkham border clash, which had forced the border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan to remain closed for the second consecutive day. The skirmish between the security forces of both nations had caused a disruption in trade activities, leaving Afghan citizens stranded on one side of the border and patients in need of medical attention waiting anxiously for the crossing to reopen. The closure had also resulted in the suspension of business activities and the congestion of freight vehicles on both sides of the border.

In explaining the root cause of the clash, Irshad Mohmand, a local administration official, pointed out that Afghan forces had attempted to establish a checkpoint in an area where a prior agreement had stipulated that neither side would do so.

This comprehensive update from the Foreign Office underscores the urgency of addressing the volatile situation along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border and the global responsibility to prevent the proliferation of weapons into the hands of terrorists in Afghanistan. It also sheds light on Pakistan's diplomatic efforts in various international forums and its commitment to protecting human rights.