Kashmir Solidarity Day Celebrated at the Embassy of Pakistan, Paris

EMBASSY OF PAKISTAN, FRANCE
 
Kashmir Solidarity Day Celebrated at the Embassy of Pakistan, Paris
 
4 February 2025
 
The Embassy of Pakistan in France organized a special event today marking the Kashmir Solidarity Day.
 
The event was attended by a cross-section of Pakistani diaspora in France, overseas Kashmiris, academics, and journalists who expressed support for the seven decades long struggle of the Kashmiri people for their right to self-determination. They called on the international community and the media to highlight the situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and to hold India accountable for its atrocities and human rights violations. 
 
Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Mumtaz Zahra Baloch voiced strong support for the Kashmiri people in their just struggle against Indian occupation and oppression. She rebuffed India’s efforts to tarnish the image of the Kashmiri freedom movement, terming the movement as peaceful and legitimate and based on the UNSC resolutions. 
 
Ambassador Baloch urged India to: reverse all illegal and unilateral measures taken on or after 5 August 2019; halt and reverse the illegal demographic changes in IIOJK; and immediately release Kashmiri political leadership, journalists, human rights defenders and youth held in arbitrary detention. She also called on India to take concrete and meaningful steps for the full implementation of UNSC resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir.
 
The Ambassador appreciated the role being played by the Pakistani and Kashmiri community living in France for supporting the Kashmir cause. She expressed full commitment of the Embassy of Pakistan in France to the inalienable right to self-determination of the Kashmiri people.
 
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Ambassador Presents Credentials as Permanent Delegate of Pakistan to UNESCO

Embassy of Pakistan

Paris

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Ambassador Presents Credentials as Permanent Delegate of Pakistan to UNESCO

Ambassador Mumtaz Zahra Baloch presented her Letter of Credentials as Pakistan’s Permanent Delegate to UNESCO to the Director-General, Ms. Audrey Azoulay, at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris today.

Following the formal presentation of her credentials, Ambassador/Permanent Delegate Mumtaz Zahra Baloch held a meeting with the Director-General Azoulay and her team. The discussion focused on Pakistan’s collaboration with UNESCO in the field of education, culture, and science.  

Ambassador/Permanent Delegate Mumtaz Zahra Baloch appreciated UNESCO’s programmes and policies, and extended support for advancing UNESCO’s mission globally in its capacity as the Vice-Chair of the Executive Board.

In response, Director-General Azoulay welcomed Ambassador/Permanent Delegate Mumtaz Zahra Baloch to UNESCO and expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s contribution and enduring commitment to UNESCO.

The two sides agreed on the need to deepen cooperation in the field of education, science, and cultural heritage, recognizing the potential for Pakistan to play an even greater role in advancing UNESCO’s objectives.

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Ambassador Mumtaz Zahra Baloch held a meeting with Director Asia, Mr. Benoît Guidée at the French Foreign Office

Embassy of Pakistan, Paris

29 January 2025

Ambassador Mumtaz Zahra Baloch held a meeting with Director Asia, Mr. Benoît Guidée at the French Foreign Office today. They discussed a wide range of bilateral and international issues. Agreed to further strengthen Pakistan-France relations and enhance bilateral cooperation and dialogue.

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SPECIAL SEMINAR AT EMBASSY OF PAKISTAN PARIS TO MARK KASHMIR BLACK DAY

Embassy of Pakistan

France, Paris

Information Section

 

PRESS RELEASE

 The Embassy of Pakistan in France organized a Special Seminar marking the Kashmir Black Day today, to express solidarity with the Kashmiris in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), Messages of the President, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan were read out on the occasion. Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said that durable peace and stability in South Asia remained contingent upon peaceful resolution of J&K dispute in accordance with UNSC resolutions and wishes of the Kashmiri people. 27 October 1947 was one of the darkest days for the Kashmiri people as the Indian occupation of J&K, which began on that day, stifled the legitimate aspirations of the Kashmiris to determine their own destiny and subjected them to decades long gross and systematic violations of human rights. For several generations, the Kashmiri people have been looking towards the global community, especially the United Nations, to deliver them their promised right to self-determination. India’s illegal and unilateral actions and continuing grave atrocities since 5 August 2019 had further exacerbated the situation and completely alienated the Kashmiri people who were united in rejecting any attempts by the occupying power to undermine the internationally recognized disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir and to alter the demographic composition of the occupied territory. India must realize that it cannot suppress the genuine aspirations of the Kashmiri people through its continued forcible occupation and brutalities. The Ambassador further said that the Kashmir case stood on strong political, legal and moral grounds and Pakistan will continue to extend all possible support to the Kashmiri brothers and sisters for the realization of their just cause. History was witness that legitimate freedom struggles could not be suppressed for long by use of force and violations of international law. The Ambassador noted that self-determination was a fundamental right enshrined in the UN Charter and international human rights covenants. Kashmiri peoples’ right to self determination was guaranteed by UNSC resolutions which stipulated that this right would be exercised through a free and impartial plebiscite to be held under the auspices of the United Nations. Speaking on the occassion AJ&K Minister for Small Industries and Trade Kausar Taqdees Gillani voiced strong concern for the inhuman treatment being faced by all Kashmiris especially women and children at the hands of Indian occupation forces. She called the attention of international community to come together and formulate policy in accordance with UNSC resolutions to help free Kashmiris from Indian occupation and protect their basic human rights. Prominent speakers condemned the gross violations of human rights and international humanitarian law being committed by the Indian occupation forces against innocent Kashmiri men, women and children. They called upon the international community and media to highlight the miseries of the defenseless Kashmiris and to hold India accountable for its atrocities, war crimes and crimes against humanity in IIOJK. People representing Pakistani diaspora, Kashmiris, academicians, journalists and other distinguished guests participated in the event that highlighted the seven decades long legitimate struggle of the Kashmiri people for their right to self-determination in accordance with the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir.

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Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad inaugurated the Pakistan Pavilion at SIAL Paris 2024

Embassy of Pakistan

Paris France

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PRESS RELEASE

Paris October 20, 2024

Subject:   Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad inaugurated the Pakistan Pavilion at SIAL Paris 2024

            Pakistan shines at SIAL Paris 2024, Europe’s leading food fair, with 34 exhibitors under TDAP’s Pakistan Pavilion and 14 other exhibitors – diverse products from rice, corn and sesame seeds to processed food, spices, frozen food, fruit juices, candies and snacks. Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad inaugurated the Pakistan Pavilion &  interacted with the participating business groups who shared their feedback and exchanged views on enhancing Pakistan’s exports in the food sector.

 

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UNESCO Unanimously Adopts Pakistan-led Resolution on “Countering Disinformation for the Promotion and Protection of Freedom of Expression and Access to Information”

Embassy of Pakistan

Paris

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PRESS RELEASE

Co-sponsored by more than 50 Member States, Pakistan-led resolution entitled “Countering Disinformation for the Promotion and Protection of Freedom of Expression and Access to Information” was unanimously adopted today at the 220th Session of the UNESCO Executive Board, currently underway in Paris.

Pakistan took this initiative against the backdrop of proliferation and intensification of disinformation, misinformation and hate speech around the world.Disinformation is one of the most pressing challenges of our time, which is exacerbated by the rapid evolution of digital platforms and communication technologies. This resolution is the first of its kind at UNESCO specifically focusing on countering disinformation, misinformation and hate speech through the platform of UNESCObuilding on UNESCO’s activities and related decisions adopted by the UN General Assembly and the Human Rights Council where Pakistan has also been in the lead.

Pakistan’s Ambassador and Permanent Delegate Asim Iftikhar Ahmad thanked all Member States for their invaluable inputs and support leading to consensus adoption of the text that puts UNESCO at the center of a multi-dimensional and multi-stakeholder approach to counter disinformation, misinformation and hate speech for effective promotion and protection of freedom of expression and access to information, as the lead UN agency mandated in the field. A large number ofdelegations speaking on the occasion noted that the increasing threat posed by disinformation was a shared concern that needed to be addressed through close coordination and collective efforts of Member States and all stakeholders.

Outcome of broad-based and extensive consultations, the resolution inter alia calls on the Director-General to provide an update on the initiatives undertaken by UNESCO to counter disinformation on digital platforms and to present a report on how to make UNESCO’s role more effective in countering disinformation, misinformation and hate speech for promotion and protection of freedom of expression and access to information.

The Executive Board is one of the constitutionalgoverning organs of UNESCO entrusted with the responsibility of preparing the agenda of the General Conference and examining the programme of work of UNESCO and its Budget. Pakistan is currently Vice-President from the Asia-Pacific at the Executive Board.

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