ISLAMABAD: A Shaheen Air International (SAI) flight has brought back 214 Pakistanis stranded in the Chinese city of Guangzhou.
The special flight left for Guangzhou Airport on Sunday night and landed back at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport late Monday.
SAI flights from Guangzhou to Lahore due for July 29, Aug. 2 and Aug. 5 “were canceled due to technical problems in their aircraft,” said Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry.
“As a result of these cancelations, a large number of Pakistanis were stranded at Guangzhou Airport.”
While most of the passengers scheduled to take the July 29 flight opted for a full refund and booked other commercial flights, some decided to wait for the next SAI flight, the ministry added.
Pakistan’s consulate in Guangzhou “ensured the wellbeing of the passengers,” the ministry said. “They were lodged in Hotel Holiday Villa near the airport and provided with halal food.”
The Consulate also ensured that all passengers whose visas had expired due to the flight cancelations did not face any problems, the ministry added.
214 Pakistanis stranded in China return home
214 Pakistanis stranded in China return home
- Cancelation of Shaheen Airline International (SAI) flights from Lahore to Guangzhou Airport left a large number of Pakistanis stranded in the Chinese city for nine days
- Pakistani mission in Guangzhou ensured the passengers whose visas expired due to cancelation of flights did not face any problem, says Pakistan Foreign Ministry
Pakistan joins 22 Muslim states, OIC to condemn Israeli FM’s visit to Somaliland
- Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar visited breakaway African region of Somaliland on January 6
- Muslim states urge Israel to withdraw Somaliland recognition, respect Somalia’s sovereignty
ISLAMABAD: A joint statement by Pakistan, 22 other Muslim states and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Thursday condemned Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar’s recent visit to Somaliland as a violation of the African nation’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Saar’s visit to Somaliland capital Hargeisa on Jan. 6 followed Israel’s move last month to recognize Somaliland, a breakaway region from Somalia, as an independent country. The move drew a sharp reaction from Muslim states, including Pakistan, who said it was in contravention of the UN Charter and international norms.
Several international news outlets months earlier reported that Israel had contacted Somaliland over the potential resettlement of Palestinians forcibly removed from Gaza. Muslim countries fear Israel’s recognition of the breakaway region could be part of its plan to forcibly relocate Palestinians from Gaza to the region.
“The said visit constitutes a clear violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia, and undermines established international norms and the United Nations Charter,” the joint statement shared by Pakistan’s foreign office, read.
The joint statement was issued on behalf of 23 Muslim states, including Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Palestine, Jordan, Kuwait, Türkiye, Oman and others.
It reaffirmed support for Somalia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, pointing out that respect for international law and non-interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states was necessary for regional stability.
“Encouraging secessionist agendas are unacceptable and risk exacerbating tensions in an already fragile region,” the statement said.
The joint statement urged Israel to revoke its recognition of the breakaway region.
“Israel should fully respect Somalia’s sovereignty, national unity and territorial integrity and honor its obligations in compliance with international law, and demand immediate revocation of the recognition issued by Israel,” the statement read.
Somaliland broke away from Somalia unilaterally in 1991 as a civil war raged in the country. Somaliland has its own constitution, parliament and currency, a move that has infuriated Somalia over the years as it insists the region is part of its territory.
