Islamabad (TDI): Pakistan will contribute to international efforts aimed at promoting peace in Gaza but will not take part in any initiative to disarm Hamas, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said on Thursday.
Speaking at the weekly media briefing, Andrabi clarified that Pakistan’s role would be limited to supporting peace and humanitarian efforts in Gaza. “Pakistan is not part of any decision targeting any specific group or organization,” he stated.
He reiterated that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar had already made it clear that while Pakistan supports a peace process, it would not join any move to disarm Hamas. Dar expressed hope that the proposed Gaza Board of Peace would help alleviate the suffering of the people in the besieged territory.
Responding to media queries, Andrabi said Pakistan had taken note of reports concerning the arrest of Indian national Nikhil Gupta and maintained that Islamabad possesses evidence of India-backed militant networks operating inside Pakistan.
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On Afghanistan, the spokesperson dismissed speculation regarding the International Security Assistance Force, stating that no decision had been taken in this regard.
Separately, he confirmed that Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal represented Pakistan at the oath-taking ceremony of the new government in Bangladesh.
The spokesperson also said that eight Muslim-majority countries, including Pakistan, strongly condemned Israel’s controversial legislation concerning the annexation of the West Bank.
Andrabi further noted that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was in New York on an official visit to the United States at the invitation of President Donald Trump, where he was scheduled to attend a meeting of the Gaza Board of Peace and hold discussions with senior U.S. officials.
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He added that Dar, who is also in New York, met the Palestinian permanent representative and Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty. Ahead of a planned visit to Austria, Dar also held separate telephone conversations with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and Abdelatty to discuss regional developments.
The spokesperson further shared that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif earlier visited Vienna at the invitation of Austrian Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker, where a joint statement was issued at the conclusion of the visit. During his stay, the prime minister also met Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
