ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch in year end briefing on Thursday stated that Pakistan is committed to the security of its people. “Our security and law enforcement personnel conduct operations in the border areas to protect the people of Pakistan from terror groups, including TTP,” she added.
Diplomatic outreach
Baloch said Afghanistan remained a priority on the agenda of Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach. Trade connectivity and people-to-people contacts were a priority in our engagement with Afghanistan. We have had some incidents on the border with Afghanistan. Pakistan’s major concern of terror hideouts and sanctuaries inside Afghanistan remained high on our bilateral agenda.
We remain engaged with Afghan authorities on all issues of priority and would like to enhance cooperation in trade, transit trade, security, and border management, she added.
Baloch said as a firm adherent of a regional approach to the situation in Afghanistan, Pakistan participated in meetings and mechanisms aimed at promoting peace in Afghanistan including in the Moscow Format talks held in Moscow in November and the third quadrilateral meeting of Foreign Ministers of China, Iran, Pakistan, and Russia. The Ministers reiterated their support for Afghanistan’s national sovereignty, political independence, unity, and territorial integrity, Baloch briefed.
Based on concrete intelligence
On the issue of whether Pakistan has carried out air strikes in Afghanistan between 24th and 25th of December, the FO spokesperson said Pakistan is committed to the security of its people. Our security and law enforcement personnel conduct operations in the border areas to protect the people of Pakistan from terror groups, including TTP. These operations are carefully selected and are based on authentic and concrete intelligence. We respect the sovereignty of Afghanistan.
We have always prioritized dialogue and cooperation with Afghanistan to confront the terror threat. We hope that Afghanistan will prevent the use of its territory for any terror attacks against Pakistan. We believe that terrorist groups like TTP are a collective threat to regional peace and security. It is therefore important for us to work together to combat the threat posed by TTP.
Dialogue and diplomacy
She said I would like to add here that Pakistan believes in dialogue and diplomacy. We have always prioritized diplomacy in our relations with Afghanistan, despite the presence of terror hideouts and sanctuaries and the consistent threat they pose to Pakistan. We have always opted for diplomacy.
Pakistan’s Special Envoy on Afghanistan, Ambassador Sadiq was in Kabul this week, where he held important meetings with the Foreign Minister of Afghanistan, Amir Mutaqi, Interior Minister, Sirajuddin Haqqani, Commerce Minister Nuruddin Azizi and important Afghan businessman. He also called on the Deputy Prime Minister Molvi Abdul Kabir.
The focus of his discussions was to enhance Pakistan’s relations with Afghanistan, including security, border management, bilateral trade, transit and regional connectivity. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan.
The FO spokesperson said Pakistan and Afghanistan are engaged to discuss all matters, including security, border management and issues related to trade and transit trade. These matters were discussed between the Special Representative on Afghanistan with the Afghan authorities, and we will continue this engagement with Afghanistan.
On the question, “Could you mention in which area of Afghanistan this operation was conducted and are there any verified reports regarding number of terrorists killed in this operation by Pakistan. Do you have some specific information related to this? It was against the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group or TTP?”
Threat for Pakistan and Afghanistan
The spokesperson responded, “First, I would like you to refer to the statement that I just made. I was clear that Pakistani security and law enforcement personnel conduct operations in the border areas to protect Pakistani people from terrorists. These operations are carefully selected and are based on authentic and concrete intelligence. Secondly, Pakistan has been engaged with Afghanistan over the last few days, and our Special Envoy on Afghanistan, discussed all matters relating to the terror groups, TTP, which have found sanctuaries inside Afghanistan.
These matters have been discussed, and we will continue to engage with Afghanistan to resolve any issues that arise. I would like to underline that Pakistan believes in dialogue and diplomacy. We have always prioritized diplomacy in relations with Afghanistan, and we believe that it is critical for both countries to work together to combat this terrorist threat, that is a threat not just for Pakistan, but also for Afghanistan.”
“Do not believe social media reports”
On the question of has Pakistan conducted the operations in Afghanistan in accordance with international law, she said “First of all, I would like to underline not to believe social media reports or the information that comes from terror groups. Secondly, I would like to again underline that Pakistan’s counter terrorism operations are carefully selected and are based on authentic and concrete intelligence, and protection of civilians is always a key consideration in any such decision. Thirdly, as I said earlier, Pakistan respects the sovereignty of Afghanistan. We believe that Afghanistan should be able to reclaim its sovereignty and security, and the terror groups that threaten the security of Afghanistan and Pakistan need to be combated by both countries.”
Patience and engagement
On the question whether in Paktika there was a strike and if the security personnel can respond to it, the spokesperson maintained: “I know there’s a lot of interest in this story. We do not wish to feed into media frenzy or get into a commentary with friendly countries through the media. Pakistan believes in diplomacy; we have always prioritized diplomacy. Pakistan has been threatened by terror groups which have hideouts and sanctuaries inside Afghanistan.
Over the last two years, there have been hundreds of casualties of Pakistani law enforcement and security personnel because of direct action by terror groups which are based in Afghanistan. Pakistan has continued to exercise patience and engage with Afghanistan to find diplomatic solution to these problems. We have no issues or concerns with the people of Afghanistan. Pakistan has very clear channels of communication with Afghan authorities.
We respect the engagement process that takes place between Pakistan and Afghanistan, including the recent meetings between Pakistan’s Special Envoy on Afghanistan and the Afghan officials. With that, I would like to again highlight that Pakistan’s priority is to resolve all these matters through dialogue, through diplomacy. We remain engaged with Afghanistan, including over the last two days. Any issues that either side has with regards to border management, trade and transit trade, security and terrorism, these issues remain high on our bilateral agenda.”
Diplomatic efforts
Pakistan’s Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch in year end briefing stated: The year 2024, was an active year for Pakistan’s diplomacy. Our diplomatic efforts focused on enhancing Pakistan’s international profile and strengthening our relations with countries around the world.
She said high-level visits exchanged with Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, China, Egypt, Gambia, Iran, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Qatar, Russia, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye, the UAE, Uzbekistan and the United Kingdom helped develop important understandings with these countries.
High level dignitaries
Baloch said Pakistan also hosted a number of high-level dignitaries. Leadership level visits took place from Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, Iran, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mangolia, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan. Senior Cabinet Ministers of China, Saudi Arabia, Iran, India, Germany, Qatar, Russia and the United Kingdom visited Pakistan. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Secretary General CICA and the Secretaries General of SAARC, IMO and the Commonwealth also undertook visits to Pakistan during 2024.
Bilateral political consultations
Pakistan continued its policy of robust engagement with its close partners and friends. We reinforced our traditional partnerships with China, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and the wider Islamic world, she added.
Baloch said this year was marked by the traditional warmth and high-level exchanges between Pakistan and China. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif undertook an official visit to China in June while Premier Li Qian of China visited Pakistan in October. Pakistan and China also held the Fifth Pakistan-China Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue in Beijing in May 2024.
On ties with Saudi Arabia
Baloch said there was a robust exchange of high-level engagements between Pakistan and the GCC countries. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif undertook four official visits to Saudi Arabia which consolidated our strategic and economic partnership. Important understandings were reached with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in political, security and economic domains and to translate the commitment between Prime Minister of Pakistan and Prince Mohammed bin Salman to expedite the investment package worth US$ 5 billion.
On United States
She said we continued to engage with the United States, to promote bilateral understanding. United States remains the largest export market for Pakistani products. The two countries reached substantive understandings on trade, investment, energy, health, education, agriculture, climate change and counter terrorism.
On Europe
The FO spokesperson We continued to cooperate and engage with our partners in Europe on bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest. Our focus was to develop deeper economic collaboration, cooperate to confront climate change and find opportunities in higher education and employment. Important understandings were reached with several European countries on labour migration, sustainable infrastructure projects, technical cooperation in civil aviation and fostering green partnerships.
The European Union has lifted a four-year ban imposed on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), leading to resumption of PIA flights to Europe. Pakistan is also engaged with the non-EU countries for the resumption of flights in the wider region as well, she added.
In multilateral settings
Baloch said we are encouraged with the results of our diplomatic efforts in multilateral settings. Pakistan was elected as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the term 2025-2026, receiving an overwhelming support in the elections held by the UN General Assembly in New York.
Pakistan was also elected as the member of International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Board of Governors (BOG) for a two-year term (2024-26) and the Chair of UN disarmament Commission for 2024, she said.
Baloch said this year Pakistan was a strong proponent of peace in the Middle East and called for an end to the genocide in Gaza and for end to Israeli aggression against countries in the region. We raised our voice at several multilateral platforms to highlight the concerns of the Palestinians, including the United Nations, the OIC, and the D-8.
On Kashmir
Baloch said Pakistan advocated constructive engagement and result-oriented dialogue with India to resolve all outstanding issues, including the core dispute of Jammu and Kashmir. It also urged India to take steps to create conducive environment for advancement of peace and dialogue, as India’s retrogressive actions in Indian illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) have vitiated the bilateral environment and impeded the prospects for peace and cooperation.
On Richard Grenell
Regarding some voices from the United States, including the designated Advisor to the incoming President, Richard Grenell, in an interview, demanding release of former PM Imran Khan, Baloch maintained said Pakistan has said on multiple occasions that we would like to have positive, constructive relations with the United States on the basis of mutual respect, mutual interest and non-interference in each other’s domestic affairs.
