Pakistan to push peace despite US-Iran escalation

Pakistan on Wednesday said the ongoing escalation between the United States and Iran should not be viewed as a failure of the mediatory process, stressing that Islamabad remained engaged in efforts to facilitate a return to negotiations. Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Pakistan was closely monitoring the situation and remained committed to the peace process. “We are closely monitoring the situation. .. International armed conflicts have their cycles, whereby a period of escalation is followed by relative calm, eventual cessation of hostilities, and an ultimate return to the negotiation table. This is the standard pattern of international armed conflicts. While we remain concerned and these escalations are certainly not desirable, we are not discouraged, and we remain engaged. ” Asked about the status of the Islamabad MoU amid the conflict, Andrabi said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had described the understanding as a framework for the parties to return to the negotiating table. Following his meeting with the Iranian president, the prime minister had said the Islamabad MoU provided a basis for dialogue, including technical-level talks, aimed at reaching a long-lasting and sustainable settlement. Welcomes PCA ruling on Indus Waters Treaty Turning to Pakistan-India water disputes, Andrabi welcomed the “clear and authoritative pronouncements” by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), saying the ruling affirmed Pakistan’s right to pursue diplomatic and legal options to protect its water rights under the Indus Waters Treaty. He said the court’s unanimous award reaffirmed the sanctity of the treaty and the principle of international law. The spokesperson said the ruling vindicated Pakistan’s consistent position that differences over Indus waters must be addressed strictly within the treaty framework and in accordance with international law. He said the PCA proceedings had been conducted under the dispute settlement mechanism provided by the Indus Waters Treaty. “India’s rejection of the award by the Permanent Court of Arbitration raises concerns that extend well beyond the present dispute. India cannot treat international law as a matter of convenience — invoking it when useful and discarding it when inconvenient, ” he said. Andrabi said India could not disregard its binding treaty obligations or legal processes. He warned that such an approach undermined the sanctity of treaties, weakened confidence in established international dispute settlement mechanisms and created adverse precedents for other regions. “India should, therefore, return to full compliance with the treaty, respect the institutional and dispute settlement mechanisms of the treaty, and engage Pakistan constructively within the framework that both countries solemnly accepted. ” He said a statement issued by India’s Ministry of External Affairs could not alter its obligations under the Indus Waters Treaty or its responsibility to comply with the Court of Arbitration’s award. “Pakistan is committed to implementing it in earnest, in letter and in spirit, in accordance with the language and provisions of the treaty. We will continue to urge India to reciprocate with the same approach whereby the treaty is upheld in letter, in spirit, and in full legal and documented provisions. ” Links Afghan peace to action against terrorism On the visit of China’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan to Pakistan, Andrabi said Islamabad appreciated Beijing’s “constructive and sustained engagement” on issues concerning Afghanistan. He said Pakistan had consistently supported constructive dialogue on Afghanistan. However, he added that progress would depend on the interim Taliban regime taking concrete and verifiable action against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and other terrorist organisations operating from Afghan soil against Pakistan. No change in Pakistan’s Kashmir position Asked about the criminal case against Kashmir leader Yasin Malik, Andrabi said there was no question of any change in Pakistan’s position on occupied Jammu and Kashmir. “Pakistan’s position on Jammu and Kashmir is firmly anchored in UN Security Council resolutions, international law, and the wishes of the Kashmiri people. .. We remain fully engaged with this issue at relevant international platforms. ” He said Prime Minister Shehbaz and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar had also raised the Kashmir issue during their interactions with the UN secretary-general in Bishkek. Andrabi said Jammu and Kashmir remained a top priority for Pakistan at the United Nations. Pakistan raises concerns over GSP monitoring report Commenting on the European Commission’s recently launched biannual GSP Monitoring Report, the spokesperson said Pakistan appreciated the commission’s recognition of the country’s continued compliance with relevant international conventions. However, he said the report’s overall narrative did not present a sufficiently balanced picture of Pakistan’s performance. On counterterrorism, Andrabi said Pakistan faced both internal and external dimensions of the threat. He said security forces continued major operations against militants inside the country, while the external dimension involved support from elements in Afghanistan, including the interim Taliban regime, for terrorists operating in Pakistan. He also alleged support and abetment by extra-regional actors, specifically India, saying Pakistan had concrete evidence. Pakistan assumes SCO chairmanship Highlighting Pakistan’s diplomatic engagements over the past week, Andrabi said Islamabad remained actively engaged on the diplomatic front through high-level bilateral, regional and multilateral contacts. He referred to Prime Minister Shehbaz’s ongoing visit to Kyrgyzstan for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, where he delivered key statements and held meetings with world leaders. He said Pakistan had also assumed the chairmanship of the SCO and would host the next meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State next year. Andrabi also highlighted the inaugural meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee established under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye in Istanbul. He said the three countries had reaffirmed their resolve to work together for regional peace, stability and de-escalation, including through restraint and peaceful resolution of crises. A secretariat headed by a secretary-general will be established in Saudi Arabia, with Pakistan set to provide the first secretary-general for an initial three-year term. The briefing was Andrabi’s final one before he takes up his new assignment as Pakistan’s permanent representative to Geneva. Ambassador Sajjad Haider Khan has assumed charge as the new Foreign Office spokesperson.

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