Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan, during his weekly press briefing, clarified that the Makkah Agreement reached between Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia is a defence pact and that there are currently no plans to expand it to include additional countries.
The Foreign Office spokesperson reiterated Pakistan’s full respect for the sovereignty and security of its brotherly Islamic country, Saudi Arabia, and said Pakistan would continue to support the Kingdom’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity.
He said bilateral defence cooperation between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia was also continuing, adding that Pakistani forces were stationed in Saudi Arabia for training and logistical purposes. He described the defence agreement as an umbrella framework under which further mechanisms would be developed.
He said implementation of the defence agreement would require some time and that further aspects of defence cooperation between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia would emerge soon.
Sajjad Haider Khan said Kashmir remained an unresolved issue on the United Nations agenda, adding that Indian claims and tactics could not alter the disputed status of the region.
He said serious human rights violations were continuing in Indian-occupied Kashmir.
The spokesperson also expressed concern over the health of Kashmiri leader Yasin Malik and condemned his “illegal detention”. He said Malik’s affidavit was a serious indictment of the Indian judicial system.
Pakistan, he added, had urged international human rights organisations to assess Yasin Malik’s health condition.
Sajjad Haider Khan said Pakistan strongly condemned the demolition of an old mosque in Saharanpur on September 5. He stressed that religious freedoms must be respected and that any action against a place of worship was condemnable.
Regarding Afghan students, the spokesperson clarified that the government had not decided to repatriate all Afghan students.
He said Afghan students holding valid visas could continue their education. However, those who were not enrolled at any university and did not possess valid visas would be dealt with in accordance with Pakistani law.
On Afghanistan, the spokesperson said Afghanistan was not an enemy of Pakistan. However, he said the current Afghan government did not understand Pakistan’s position regarding terrorism.
He added that Pakistan viewed its relations with the Afghan people separately from the issue of terrorism.
Responding to questions about India’s alleged role in terrorism, the spokesperson said Pakistan had evidence of India’s involvement in terrorist activities in the country.
He claimed that evidence of alleged Indian terrorist activities had also emerged in Canada, the United States, Australia and other countries.
Commenting on the September 11 attacks, he said the 9/11 incident had changed the situation for the world as well as Pakistan. He said Pakistan had remained part of international efforts against terrorism and had itself been severely affected by the menace.
The Foreign Office spokesperson said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had visited Kyrgyzstan, where both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation.
Several memoranda of understanding were signed between Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan during the visit, he added.
He said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar had spoken by telephone with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, with the two discussing ways to further strengthen bilateral relations as well as regional and global issues.
The two foreign ministers agreed to meet on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly session in New York.
Sajjad Haider Khan said Ishaq Dar had also contacted the Norwegian foreign minister and expressed condolences over the death of Norway’s King Harald V, conveying Pakistan’s sympathies to the royal family and people of Norway.
According to the spokesperson, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke by telephone with Kuwait’s foreign minister on September 7. They discussed bilateral relations, cooperation in areas of mutual interest and the regional situation, and agreed to meet on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session.
He added that Ishaq Dar again spoke with his Egyptian counterpart on September 9 and discussed national and regional developments. The two ministers agreed to maintain close consultations.
The spokesperson said foreign ministers from Pakistan and Arab and Islamic countries had rejected Israeli statements and proposals concerning the forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza.
They also reaffirmed their support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, he added.
Sajjad Haider Khan said that, on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s instructions, Pakistan had sent 100 tonnes of relief supplies for flood victims in Nepal.
He also said Pakistan would host the South Asian Games from April 4 to 11, 2027.
The spokesperson said China’s Global Governance Initiative was an important initiative and that Pakistan was part of it. He added that Pakistan was ready to work with China under the initiative.
The Foreign Office spokesperson said the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) had dismantled a major drug trafficking network allegedly headed by an Afghan national.
He said the operation was carried out following coordination with Sri Lankan authorities at Karachi Port, resulting in the seizure of 200 kilograms of narcotics.
Pakistan, he added, thanked friendly countries for their cooperation in efforts to combat drug trafficking.
