Pakistan says no request from Iran for 'military assistance'
Islamabad, Jun 19 (PTI): Pakistan on Thursday said it has received no request for any “military assistance” from Iran in the ongoing war against Israel while stressing that the Islamic Republic has the right to defend itself.
“Pakistan’s position on Iran is clear and transparent: We provide full moral support to Iran; we strongly condemn the aggression against Iran,” Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said at the weekly press briefing here.
Khan said no request has been received from Tehran to provide asylum to Iranian refugees in Pakistan, which borders the Islamic Republic. “Nor has Iran asked us for any kind of military assistance so far,” he added.
"Iran has the right to defend itself under the UN Charter," Khan said.
Khan stated that twenty-one Muslim countries rejected the Israeli aggression against Iran in a joint statement, calling the Israeli actions against international law and the UN Charter.
The spokesperson said that the situation in Iran was a cause for grave concerns for Pakistan and asked for ending the Israel attacks.
He also said that Pakistan supported a negotiated resolution to the Iran-Israel conflict.
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar held telephonic contacts with the foreign ministers of Iran, Turkey, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom and highlighted that Israeli actions against Iran can have dangerous effects in the region and beyond, Khan added.
The spokesperson also stressed that targeting Iranian nuclear facilities was a violation of IAEA safeguards and other international laws.
He also said that the Pakistani Embassy in Tehran and the consulates in Mashhad and Zahedan were assisting in the evacuation of Pakistani nationals. He added that so far 3,000 Pakistanis have been brought back.
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Congress’ downfall will start from Baramati if it doesn’t let Sunetra Pawar win unopposed: Bawankule
Nagpur (PTI): The Congress will have to face consequences if it doesn't allow NCP president and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar to win the Baramati assembly bypoll unopposed, said minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Thursday.
The party’s “downfall” will start from Baramati, he said, stressing that the people of Baramati and Maharashtra wish that she is elected unopposed, said the BJP leader.
The April 23 bye election was necessitated after the tragic death of deputy CM Ajit Pawar, who headed the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), in a plane crash in Baramati on January 28. After his death, his wife Sunetra became the party president.
The NCP, BJP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena are partners in the ruling Mahayuti alliance in the state.
“The Congress will face consequences if it doesn’t let Sunetra win unopposed from Baramati. Its downfall will start from Baramati if it doesn’t withdraw its candidate,” Bawankule told reporters in Nagpur.
Amid efforts to ensure an unopposed contest, the Congress has fielded advocate Akash More for the bypoll.
The party had said that it would withdraw from the contest only if an FIR were registered in Ajit Pawar’s death in the Baramati plane crash.
Replying to another question, Bawankule said the BJP’s performance will be more robust in Assam and Kerala elections compared to the last assembly polls in these states. Assembly polls are being held in a single phase in Assam, Kerala and Puducherry on Thursday.
“These elections will once again show Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership commanding support among the people,” he said.
