Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday asked people to self-quarantine for at least another 45 days as the country reported its third coronavirus death and the total number of confirmed cases rose to 464.The third death was reported from Sindh Province where the number of confirmed cases rose to 238, according to provincial spokesman Murtaza Wahab.Already two patients died in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa where the number of positive cases has increased to 23, provincial health minister Taimur Jhagra said.Among other things, Pakistan shut down the western border with Afghanistan and Iran. It also ordered the closure of all educational institutions in Pakistan till April 5 in view of the virus outbreak.

Pakistan President Dr Arif Alvi was in China on a two-day visit at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping.Pakistani media reported that it was the President’s first visit to China, which is specifically aimed at conveying "strong support and solidarity of Pakistan" towards the government and the people of China in their battle against Covid-19.During his visit, the Kashmir issue figured in the talks between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Pakistani counterpart Arif Alvi during which the Chinese side "underscored that it was paying close attention to the current situation" in the region."Both sides exchanged views on the situation in Jammu & Kashmir. The Pakistan side briefed the Chinese side on the latest developments, including its concerns, position, and current urgent issues," said a joint statement posted on the Chinese Foreign Ministry website.India has categorically told the international community that its move to abrogate provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution to withdraw Jammu and Kashmir's special status was an internal matter. India maintains that Kashmir is a bilateral issue and no third party has any role in it.

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Pakistan raises Kashmir issue during Saarc video conference

Pakistan on Sunday raised the Kashmir issue during a video conference with leaders of SAARC nations, saying that it is imperative that the lockdown in the region be lifted in view of the health emergency amid coronavirus outbreak.



"It is a matter of concern that COVID-19 has been reported from Jammu and Kashmir. In view of the health emergency, it is imperative that all lockdown in the territory must be lifted immediately," Zafar Mirza, Pakistan's State Minister of Health, said at a video conference with leaders of the SAARC nations on COVID-19.



Restrictions have been imposed in Jammu and Kashmir following the Indian government's move to revoke Article 370 of the Constitution that accorded special status to the region.



Mirza said that no nation and region can afford to be unresponsive to the threat of coronavirus.



The video conference had been proposed by Prime Minister Modi with an aim to chalk out a joint strategy to combat coronavirus pandemic.



Reacting to Mirza's statement, India said it was "churlish" of Pakistan to politicise a humanitarian issue by raking up the Kashmir matter at a video conference. "This is a humanitarian issue and Pakistan tried to politicise the humanitarian issue," the government sources said.