PM requests ‘high-level’ participation from Bahrain at UN conference on Pakistan floods

This combination of photos shows Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif (L) and Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa (R). (PID/AFP)
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Updated 28 December 2022
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PM requests ‘high-level’ participation from Bahrain at UN conference on Pakistan floods

  • PM Shehbaz Sharif speaks to Bahrain’s King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa over the phone
  • UN conference in Geneva on January 9 aims to garner support for Pakistan after devastating floods

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke to Bahrain’s King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa on Wednesday to request “high-level participation” from the kingdom for an upcoming United Nations conference that aims to garner humanitarian aid for flood-affected Pakistan. 

Unusually heavy rains in mid-June killed over 1,700 people in Pakistan and damaged critical infrastructure in the country. Over 33 million people were affected by the deluges which, at one point in time, caused at least one-third of Pakistan to remain underwater. Pakistan estimates damages from the floods to be over $30 billion.

Pakistan will co-chair the conference in Geneva on January 9, 2023, titled ‘International Conference on Climate Resilient Pakistan’. It aims to garner humanitarian aid for the South Asian country in its rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts after the floods.

“Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday apprised King of the Kingdom of Bahrain Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa of the ‘International Conference on Climate Resilient Pakistan’, to be held in Geneva on 9 January next year, and requested a high-level participation from Bahrain,” the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) said.

Al Khalifa expressed “firm support” for Pakistan’s initiatives to rehabilitate its people and carry out reconstruction in the flood-ravaged areas during the telephonic conversation, APP said.

PM Sharif highlighted the importance Pakistan attached to its historical and cordial ties with the Kingdom of Bahrain, the state-run agency said, adding that Al Thani reciprocated Sharif’s sentiments.

“The two leaders agreed to maintain close contact and work together on all issues of mutual interest,” it said.


UN Security Council calls on states to help Pakistan bring Balochistan attackers to justice

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UN Security Council calls on states to help Pakistan bring Balochistan attackers to justice

  • Security officials say counterterrorism operations have killed 197 separatist militants over three days
  • Security Council calls such acts of militant violence criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of motivation

ISLAMABAD: The United Nations Security Council on Tuesday condemned coordinated attacks in Pakistan’s southwestern province of Balochistan, urging all countries to actively cooperate with Islamabad in bringing the perpetrators to justice, as security officials said 197 separatist militants had been killed in counterterrorism operations over the past three days.

The attacks, claimed by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), targeted security installations and government facilities across multiple districts in the province, killing more than 50 people, including 22 members of the security forces, Pakistani authorities said.

Pakistan has repeatedly accused BLA militants of acting as “Indian proxies” and receiving logistical support from Afghanistan, allegations that both New Delhi and Kabul deny.

“The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the heinous and cowardly terrorist attacks across multiple locations in Balochistan province, Pakistan, on 31st January 2026,” the Council said in a statement circulated by its president, James Kariuki.

“The members of the Security Council underlined the need to hold perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice,” it said. “They urged all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with the Government of Pakistan in this regard.”

The statement said the attacks resulted in the deaths of Pakistani nationals, among them five women and three children.

“The members of the Security Council expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and to the Government and the people of Pakistan, and wished a speedy and full recovery to those who were injured,” it added.

A Pakistani security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said “follow-up and sanitization operations against these terrorists are still ongoing,” adding that 36 Baloch civilians had also “fallen victim to the barbarity of these terrorists.”

He also confirmed the exact death toll on both sides, saying 36 “Baloch citizens who have fallen victim to the barbarity of these terrorists.”

The Council reiterated that such acts of militant violence are criminal and unjustifiable regardless of motivation.

Pakistan is currently serving as a non-permanent Security Council member for the 2025-26 term.