Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Tahir Andrabi on Friday officially announced that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would be undertaking a visit to China from May 23-26.

During his weekly press briefing, he said, “At the invitation of the People’s Republic of China, PM Shehbaz will undertake an official visit to China from May 23 to 26.”

He said that the premier’s visit assumed special significance as the two countries were also commemorating the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties.

“The visit will provide an opportunity to reaffirm the abiding strength of the Pakistan-China all-weather strategic partnership and advance a shared vision of building an even closer Pakistan-China community of a shared future,” he said.

Andrabi said that during the visit, the premier would hold meetings with the Chinese leadership, including President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Qiang.

“The two sides will review bilateral relations, and cooperation in political, economic and strategic domains,” he said.

“The visit is expected to further strengthen and deepen political trust, strategic coordination, expand political cooperation and consolidate the long-standing friendship between the two countries,” he said.

The FO spokesperson stated that the premier will begin his visit from the Chinese city of Hangzhou in Zhejiang province, where he will chair the Pakistan-China B2B Investment Conference.

“In Beijing, the prime minister will attend a reception hosted by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries to commemorate the 75th anniversary of our diplomatic relations,” Andrabi said.

Later, the FO also shared these details of the PM’s upcoming visit to China in a separate statement.

On being asked if the US-Iran war would be on the agenda during the visit, Andrabi answered in the affirmative.

It should be mentioned that the premier’s visit comes at a time when Pakistan has remained engaged in facilitating engagement between the US and Iran in the past month, of which China has also been a part.

“Pakistan and China have maintained close coordination on the standoff in the Middle East/Gulf and our peace efforts in this regard,” Andrabi said, recalling Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s visit to China last month.

“We agreed on a five-point principle, which was issued as a joint statement. So, yes, this issue will be discussed during the prime minister’s visit,” Andrabi stated.

He maintained that while the primary objective of the visit remained bilateral, the US-Iran war is expected to come up during “discussion between our prime minister and the Chinese leadership”.

‘India’s rejection of PCA IWT proceedings holds no political or legal value’

During the briefing, Andrabi was also asked about India’s rejection of a May 15 supplemental award by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) over the Indus Water Treaty.

Responding to the query, Andrabi maintained that the rejection held “no political or legal value”.

“Pakistan rejects this legally untenable attempt to dismiss the PCA’s supplemental award,” he said, adding that the mechanism was constituted under the IWT and its awards were “final and binding”.

Andrabi stressed that India’s “refusal to participate cannot invalidate lawful proceedings”.

The spokesperson reiterated the state’s position on the award, stating that it “reaffirmed Pakistan’s long-standing position that the treaty imposed substantive limits on India’s water control capabilities on the western rivers”.

“India’s claim to hold the IWT in abeyance is equally without legal basis, and the treaty remains in force,” he said.

‘World must play constructive role against human rights abuses in IoK’

Andrabi also called on the international community and the United States to take note of the continued human rights abuses in occupied Kashmir.

He recalled that May 21 marked the death anniversary of Mirwaiz Maulvi Mohammad Farooq in 1990 and Abdul Gani Lone in 2002, both of whom were shot dead by unidentified gunmen.

Paying “rich tribute” to the leaders, Andrabi said, “Pakistan salutes the courage of countless Kashmiri martyrs who have laid down their lives in pursuit of their inalienable right to self-determination”.

Andrabi held that the killing of innocent Kashmiris and their leaders was a “chilling example of the brazen impunity that defines the deplorable human rights situation in the India-occupied Kashmir”.

In that regard, Andrabi urged the international community to “hold India accountable and ensure a just solution”.

Andrabi also expressed concern at the “continued politically motivated questionable cases” against Kashmiri leaders.

“By suppressing legitimate Kashmiri voices and through arbitrary detention and sham trials [..] India continues to misuse its judiciary to pursue a political vendetta against the Kashmiri leadership,” Andrabi stated.

He called for the release of political prisoners, human rights defenders, and civil society activists in Indian-occupied Kashmir, once again urging the international community, including the US, to play a “constructive role” by holding India accountable for its human rights abuses and ensuring the release of political prisoners in occupied Kashmir.

FO mum on reports of ‘high-level’ delegation’s visit to Iran

Andrabi also said he could neither deny nor confirm reports about a “high-level delegation” visiting Iran from Pakistan.

He made these remarks when asked about reports of Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir visiting Iran.

“We can neither confirm not deny these reports,” Andrabi said in his response.

He also said that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s recent statement was in reference to Interior Mohsin Naqvi’s visit to Iran and not any other visit.

Rubio said yesterday he believed that “Pakistanis will be travelling to Tehran today”, while Naqvi is already in Tehran and has been holding meetings with the political leadership.

Andrabi also said that Pakistani leadership was in contact with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, adding that “this is part of engagements with neighbouring countries”.

Additional reporting by Ameer Hamza