Foreign Office says Islamabad remains committed to diplomacy in the Middle East while maintaining that its defence agreements are compatible with its efforts to facilitate dialogue.
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — WEB DESK: Pakistan has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting peace and dialogue in the Middle East, saying its defence agreements with regional partners do not conflict with its efforts to facilitate diplomacy.
Speaking at a weekly press briefing in Islamabad, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said Pakistan remains concerned about the deteriorating security situation in West Asia and continues to encourage dialogue between the United States and Iran.
Pakistan Calls for Dialogue
Andrabi said Pakistan is working to help bring relevant parties back to negotiations under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) framework and is maintaining diplomatic contacts aimed at restoring stability in the Strait of Hormuz.
He added that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently held discussions with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on regional developments.
“The Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea remain areas of concern,” Andrabi said, reiterating Pakistan’s support for de-escalation and the resumption of diplomatic talks.
Defence Agreements ‘Not Contradictory’
Responding to questions about Pakistan’s defence partnerships, Andrabi said Islamabad’s mediation efforts and defence cooperation with friendly countries are “not contradictory.”
He noted that Pakistan signed a defence agreement with Kuwait in June 2023, following decades of bilateral cooperation. He added that Pakistan also maintains defence ties with Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Bahrain.
According to the spokesperson, such agreements do not undermine Pakistan’s ability to play a constructive diplomatic role in regional affairs.
Nuclear Programme Remarks
Andrabi also rejected a documentary produced by a German broadcaster that, he said, presented misleading claims about Pakistan’s nuclear programme.
He said Pakistan has full confidence in its nuclear command and control system, describing it as fully aligned with international standards.
Other Diplomatic Issues
The spokesperson said Pakistan condemned attacks by non-state actors targeting Saudi Arabia and reaffirmed the Kingdom’s right to self-defence.
He also highlighted recent diplomatic engagements with Kuwait, including discussions on expanding bilateral cooperation, and said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held meetings with an American congressional delegation and a trade delegation during an Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting in Kyrgyzstan.
On relations with India, Andrabi said Pakistan’s position on the Kargil conflict remains unchanged, describing it as a historical matter. He reiterated Pakistan’s rejection of India’s position on Jammu and Kashmir.
The spokesperson also confirmed that visa issuance for officials at the Pakistani and Indian High Commissions was an administrative matter and said Pakistan has not deported any Afghan national holding valid legal documentation.
