Pakistan offers guarded reaction to Capitol Hill attack by Trump supporters

• This is Pakistan's first official reaction to the storming of the United States Congress building by pro-Trump supporters.
  
• Pakistan congratulated President-elect Joe Biden on Congress certification.
• The spokesperson refuted the charges by the First Vice President of Afghanistan Amrullah Saleh against Pakistan.
  

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday congratulated President-elect Joe Biden on certification of his win by the US Congress and hoped for a smooth ongoing transition process.

This is Pakistan's first official reaction to the storming of the United States Congress building by pro-Trump supporters.

Read more: Congress confirms Joe Biden's US election 2020 win

“We are closely following the developments in Washington DC. We are hopeful that the situation will soon normalise and would not in any way impact the ongoing transition process. We also wish to congratulate President-elect Joe Biden on certification of his win by the US Congress,” a spokesperson at the Foreign Office said at the weekly media briefing.

Attack on Hazara coalminers 

Touching upon the demands by Afghan authorities to return seven victims in the militant attack on Hazara coalminers in Mach, there was no definite response.

Read more: Machh Massacre: Balochistan chief minister removes DC Kachhi, DPO from office

“As for the Mach incident, the matter is being thoroughly investigated to ascertain the facts and as soon as further details are available, they will be shared with the media,” said the spokesperson.

Pakistan refutes Afghanistan's charges

Taking note of allegations by the First Vice President of Afghanistan Amrullah Saleh against Pakistan, the spokesperson refuted the charges. 

“Pakistan strongly repudiates baseless, false and fictitious allegations made by Afghanistan’s First Vice President Amrullah Saleh in a Facebook post regarding the illegal transfer of material from Pakistan that could be used as explosive,” he said.

“As per our bilateral agreements and mutual understanding reached in APAPPS and shared vision agreed during the visit of the prime minister to Kabul on November 19, 2020, the two countries have obligation to avoid public blame-game and use official channels to discuss the complete gamut of bilateral relations,” he said.

The spokesperson highlighted it was imperative for the two sides to focus on enhancing cooperation and coordination through the existing official channels.

IRGC seizing a South Korea-flagged oil tanker

Pertaining to a query regarding Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) seizing a South Korea-flagged oil tanker in the waters of the Persian Gulf, he replied: “We have noted the development. We believe that differences pertaining to maritime affairs should be resolved as per international law. We urge all sides to exercise restraint.”

India to sit on a UN body

The spokesperson reacted to reports regarding Indian attempts to join the UNSC as a non-permanent member, stating that it is ironic that New Delhi is able to sit on a UN body whose resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir have been persistently and defiantly flouted for over 70 years.

“India continues to oppress the Kashmiris and deny their inalienable right to self-determination that was guaranteed to them under numerous resolutions of the UN Security Council,” he added.