ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday warned India against any military aggression, pledging a “forceful response” to threats from Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and urging New Delhi to avoid provocative rhetoric that could undermine peace and stability in South Asia.
Responding to the remarks during the Foreign Office’s weekly media briefing, spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan described them as a reflection of India’s “hegemonic mindset” and warned that such statements risked escalating regional tensions.
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“Let there be no ambiguity: Pakistan remains fully prepared to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity against any ill-advised aggression,” Khan said.
Pakistan urges India to avoid escalation
The spokesperson urged India to draw lessons from the military confrontation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours in May 2025, saying Pakistan had demonstrated its ability and determination to defend its sovereignty.
He cautioned that Pakistan’s restraint and commitment to peace should not be mistaken for weakness, calling on New Delhi to abandon what he described as a “belligerent posture and dangerous rhetoric” and act responsibly to preserve regional stability.
Khan described India’s August 5, 2019, decision to revoke the special status of Indian-administered Kashmir as “illegal and void”.
He said the move did not change Jammu and Kashmir’s status as an internationally recognised disputed territory, stressing that its final status must be determined in line with relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people.
Pakistan reaffirms support for Saudi Arabia
Turning to developments in the Middle East, Khan reiterated Pakistan’s solidarity with Saudi Arabia following attacks targeting the kingdom.
He said attacks against civilian populations and critical infrastructure were unacceptable and posed a serious threat to regional peace and security.
Pakistan reaffirmed its commitment to Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, security and stability, including under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement (MJDA).
Khan also referred to a joint statement issued on October 11 by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkiye under the R4 Group framework, condemning continuing Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia, including an attack on King Khalid International Airport.
Read Also: Pakistan Strongly Condemns Houthi Attacks on Saudi Arabia
The four countries expressed solidarity with Riyadh, supported measures to protect its territory and population, and called for an immediate and unconditional cessation of the attacks, he said.
Pakistan condemns Colombia’s embassy move
On Palestine, the spokesperson said Pakistan had joined the foreign ministers of 18 other countries in condemning Colombia’s inauguration of its embassy in Jerusalem.
The countries described the move as inconsistent with relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and detrimental to efforts to achieve a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Pakistan has consistently advocated a negotiated settlement based on relevant UN resolutions and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
Pakistan and Oman agree to deepen cooperation
Khan said Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi visited Pakistan on October 13–14 at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.
The two ministers co-chaired the eighth session of the Pakistan-Oman Joint Ministerial Commission, reviewing bilateral relations and agreeing to expand cooperation in trade, investment, energy, maritime connectivity, information technology and workforce mobility.
Five agreements and memorandums of understanding were signed during the visit, alongside a protocol documenting the proceedings of the commission’s session.
Both sides also exchanged views on regional and international developments and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties.
Pakistan and Russia discuss bilateral relations
The spokesperson said Dar met Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev at the Foreign Office on October 14. Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry also attended the meeting.
The discussions covered bilateral relations and opportunities to enhance cooperation in trade, investment, culture, tourism and people-to-people exchanges. Both sides also emphasised continued coordination at multilateral forums, including the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
Dar separately spoke by telephone with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on October 15 to discuss regional and international developments.
During his conversation with Abdelatty, Dar stressed the importance of dialogue and diplomacy in addressing regional challenges and reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for de-escalation efforts.
His discussion with Fidan focused on Gaza and Palestine, as well as preparations and strategy for the forthcoming Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Iraq.
Pakistan calls on Kabul to act against terrorists
On counterterrorism, Khan referred to Dar’s address at an international conference organised by the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad on October 12, focusing on Pakistan’s evolving counterterrorism challenges, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and cross-border threats.
Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s resolve to combat terrorism and urged the Afghan authorities to take “concrete, verifiable, and irreversible action” against terrorist groups operating from Afghan territory against Pakistan.
He also highlighted the threat posed by groups that Pakistan alleges are backed by India and operating against the country, including from Afghan territory.
Dar outlined Pakistan’s counterterrorism measures, including implementation of the National Action Plan, Operation Azm-e-Istehkam and enhanced intelligence coordination.
Read Also: Pakistan Condemns Attempt to Demolish Mosque in India
Pakistan and EU discuss legal migration pathways
The spokesperson said Dar met European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner in Islamabad on October 13 to discuss migration and mobility under the Pakistan-EU Strategic Engagement Plan.
Dar highlighted Pakistan’s efforts to combat irregular migration, migrant smuggling and human trafficking, stressing the need to expand legal migration opportunities for Pakistani skilled workers and professionals.
Brunner acknowledged Pakistan’s progress in curbing irregular migration and recognised the potential for expanding legal migration pathways, Khan said.
IAEA mission reviews Pakistan’s nuclear security framework
Khan said the International Atomic Energy Agency’s International Physical Protection Advisory Service mission to Pakistan concluded its review on October 9.
The mission examined Pakistan’s national legal and regulatory framework governing nuclear security. The IAEA team appreciated Pakistan’s cooperation, transparency and professionalism during the assessment, he said.
According to the spokesperson, the mission reflected Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening nuclear security and promoting international cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear technology.
Read Also: Pakistan Rejects Indian Claim On Status Of Disputed Jammu & Kashmir
Pakistan moves to digitise document attestation
The Foreign Office also announced plans to integrate databases maintained by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Higher Education Commission and the Inter Boards Coordination Commission to streamline the attestation and verification of educational documents.
Dar witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the three institutions.
The initiative aims to improve transparency, reduce processing delays and eliminate the need for physical visits, making document verification services more accessible to Pakistanis living at home and abroad.
Khan added that newly appointed Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad called on Dar on October 12 after formally assuming his new responsibilities at the Foreign Office.
Dar appreciated Ahmad’s contributions as Pakistan’s permanent representative to the United Nations in New York and wished him success in his new role.
