Key Points
- Foreign Office spokesperson says progress depends on India’s willingness to engage
- No formal contact exists between Pakistan and India beyond routine diplomacy
- Dismisses reports of any secret agreement with the United States over Pakistan’s natural resources
- India is fanning terrorism in Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan on Friday said that Pakistan welcomes any international initiative, including from the United States, aimed at resolving the longstanding Kashmir dispute.
Speaking during his weekly press briefing in Islamabad, Khan reaffirmed diplomatic engagement to address regional issues. However, he noted that progress depends on India’s willingness to engage, adding that, at present, there are no official contacts between the two countries beyond routine diplomatic interactions.
In response to a question regarding media reports suggesting India may grant statehood to Jammu while treating the remainder of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) differently, the spokesperson reiterated Pakistan’s clear stance: Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally recognised disputed territory.
Its final status, he said, must be determined in line with relevant United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions and the will of the Kashmiri people.
He condemned India’s unilateral actions of 5th August 2019 as violations of the UN Charter, UNSC resolutions, and international law, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention.
It was on August 5, 2019, that India unilaterally and illegally stripped Jammu and Kashmir of its special status, an action that has since then been rejected by the international community, Kashmiris, and Pakistanis alike.
Ban on books in IIOJK
Khan also criticised the reported banning of books by renowned authors Arundhati Roy and Maulana Abul A’la al-Maududi by Indian authorities in IIOJK. He described the move as yet another example of India’s “draconian and illegal rule” in the region.
No secret deal with US
Responding to another question, the spokesperson dismissed reports suggesting a secret agreement between Pakistan and the United States over the country’s natural resources. He assured that Pakistan has not compromised its national interests in any way.
Terrorism and regional security
On the issue of terrorism, Khan accused India of fanning terrorism within Pakistan. He further claimed that the ongoing insurgency in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is being fuelled from Afghan soil.
He stressed that Pakistan continues to urge Afghan authorities to take action against terrorist sanctuaries operating within their borders. A stable Afghanistan, he added, is in Pakistan’s best interest.
Pakistan-Russia ties
Regarding Pakistan’s ties with Russia, the spokesperson said Moscow remains a key priority in Islamabad’s foreign policy.
He noted that both countries are working together to strengthen bilateral relations, which not only serve mutual interests but also contribute to regional peace and stability.
Ties with Iran
Khan, in his opening statement, said President of Iran, Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian’s recent visit to Pakistan further strengthened the brotherly relations between the two countries.
“A number of initiatives for enhancing trade were discussed, including facilitating barter trade, enhancing quota for export of rice, fruits, and meat, border markets operationalisation, and addressing issues related to enhancing trade,” he said.
Support for Gaza
He said that Pakistan remains steadfast in its support for Palestine during these trying times. He reiterated Pakistan’s call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza, the protection of civilians, and unhindered access for humanitarian assistance.
He added that Pakistan also continues to advocate for the restoration of a political process leading to a just and lasting two-state solution based on pre-1967 borders in accordance with international law and relevant UNSC resolutions. Pakistan has actively participated in various international forums, including the UN Security Council, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and the International Court of Justice (ICJ), to ensure accountability for Israel’s actions.
Pakistan rejects allegations of its citizens’ involvement in Ukraine war
He categorically rejected the baseless and unfounded allegations of the involvement of Pakistani nationals in the conflict in Ukraine.
“To date, Pakistan has not been formally approached by the Ukrainian authorities, nor has any verifiable evidence been presented to substantiate such claims. Government of Pakistan shall take up the matter with the Ukrainian authorities and seek clarification in this regard,” he said.
Khan added Pakistan reaffirms its commitment to the peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict through dialogue and diplomacy, in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter.
Provocative actions at Al Aqsa Mosque
He condemned the provocative and deeply offensive desecration of Al Aqsa Mosque by thousands of Israeli settlers, including senior Israeli ministers, officials, and members of the Knesset, shielded by brutal Israeli occupying forces.
The presence and statements of senior Israeli officials, and the repugnant declaration that “the Temple Mount is ours,” are a dangerous and deliberate attempt to provoke religious sentiments across the world, escalate tensions, and alter the status of Al Aqsa Mosque.
Israel’s expansionist attempts are a deliberate effort to destabilise the region and sabotage any meaningful path to peace. These provocations risk igniting a catastrophic spiral of violence across the region. The world must not remain silent in the face of such systemic, illegal, inhumane, and unlawful aggression.
We urge the international community, particularly the United Nations, to take immediate and concrete steps to hold Israel accountable for its illegal actions and to protect the religious sanctity of Al Aqsa Mosque and the rights of the Palestinian people, in particular the right to self-determination.
