Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South-Central, Sinn Fein)
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6. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for an update on Ireland's position in relation to operations conducted by the Pakistani state in Balochistan, and the alleged human rights violations being carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21691/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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My Department, through our Embassy in Islamabad, continues to monitor developments closely in the province of Balochistan, in south-west Pakistan, in light of the ongoing unrest in this region and the recent arrests of prominent human rights activists.

Our Embassy has engaged regularly with both the EU Delegation and like-minded partners in Pakistan regarding the most appropriate response and representations to authorities.

I reiterate Ireland’s commitment to the promotion and protection of universal human rights, including freedom of expression, freedom of peaceful assembly and association, and freedom to participate in the political process. Ireland continues to engage with Pakistan on political and human rights issues in the country, at both bilateral and multilateral level.

Human rights concerns have also been raised with Pakistan at EU level, most notably during the 14th EU-Pakistan Joint Commission and Sub-Group on Democracy, Governance, Rule of Law and Human Rights, which took place in Islamabad in November 2024. Human rights will continue to feature prominently in trade discussions, most notably ensuring the implementation of international human rights conventions linked to the trade preferences afforded to Pakistan under the GSP+ scheme.

My Department, through our Embassy in Islamabad, will continue to monitor the evolving situation, along with our like-minded partners and the EU Delegation in Islamabad.