Pakistan has reaffirmed its commitment to peace in Palestine and regional stability while raising serious security concerns during the weekly media briefing by Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi.
The spokesperson said Pakistan joined the Gaza Peace Board with sincerity, alongside seven other key Muslim countries. He said Pakistan seeks peace in Palestine through the forum and aims to contribute to the reconstruction and improvement of Gaza.
Rejecting speculation, the Foreign Office said allegations linking the Gaza Peace Board to the Abraham Accords are baseless. Andrabi clarified that the Peace Board has no connection whatsoever with the Abraham Accords and operates independently.
Support for Palestinian statehood
Pakistan expressed hope for the effective implementation of the Peace Board framework. The spokesperson reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
The spokesperson welcomed the United States’ decision to upgrade its travel advisory for Pakistan. He said the improvement reflects Pakistan being shown as a safe country, allowing Pakistanis to travel with greater confidence.
Andrabi announced that the president of Kazakhstan will visit Pakistan in the near future. He said the dates for the visit would be announced soon.
Afghan nationals involved in terrorism
The Foreign Office said terrorists involved in recent attacks in Pakistan are Afghan citizens, contradicting claims by the Afghan Taliban government. Andrabi stated Pakistan has credible evidence that Afghan soil is being used to plan terrorist attacks.
Calling the situation alarming, the spokesperson said terrorism originating from Afghanistan poses a serious threat to Pakistan’s security and stability. He stressed that the chain of terrorism coming from Afghan territory must be stopped.
Diplomatic channels remain open
Despite these challenges, Andrabi said diplomatic relations with Afghanistan are being maintained. He confirmed that the Pakistani embassy in Kabul and the Afghan embassy in Islamabad remain fully functional.
Pakistan is engaging Afghan authorities on the issue through bilateral channels and will continue raising the matter at regional forums. The involvement of an Afghan attacker in the Dera Ismail Khan attack, he said, reflects a recurring pattern.
The spokesperson said the DI Khan attack has been raised on bilateral and other international platforms. He reiterated that Afghan citizens’ involvement in terrorism inside Pakistan is a matter of record.
Andrabi said the punishment of Imaan Mazari and her husband Hadi Ali Chatta is Pakistan’s internal matter. He added that Pakistan remains in contact with the European Union, while declining to comment on the agreement between India and the United Arab Emirates.
