Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Pakistan was open to state-level talks with Afghanistan, while stressing that any dialogue mechanism must be backed by concrete and verifiable counterterrorism measures.
Speaking at the weekly press briefing, Andrabi said Islamabad had taken note of a proposal by Afghan interim Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani to establish a dedicated mechanism involving committees from both countries to improve communication and coordination.
He said Pakistan remained willing to engage in dialogue but warned that the success of any such arrangement would depend on actions rather than assurances.
Andrabi called on the Afghan Taliban to ensure that its territory was not used for terrorist activities against Pakistan and to fulfil its international obligations, including commitments under the Doha framework.
He said Islamabad was prepared to establish institutional coordination with Kabul if it resulted in verifiable action against militant groups and improved border management.
Asked about mediation efforts by friendly countries, the spokesperson said he was unaware of any understanding with China to end its engagement between Pakistan and Afghanistan. He reiterated that Kabul must provide written and verifiable assurances that Afghan territory would not be used for terrorism against Pakistan.
Andrabi also rejected allegations by Afghan officials that Pakistan was behind unrest in Badakhshan, urging the Afghan Taliban to act independently and meet its international obligations.
He said Pakistan had evidence of Indian involvement in terrorism originating from Afghan territory, adding that groups acting at the behest of another country would be considered proxies.
The spokesperson rejected reports that Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir had travelled to Tehran as an envoy of US President Donald Trump or at Washington’s request.
He said Munir’s Aug 24 visit to Iran was conducted in the context of Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to mediate between the United States and Iran.
According to Andrabi, the visit focused on regional de-escalation, ending the military stalemate and facilitating negotiations, as well as efforts to restore movement through the Strait of Hormuz.
He said Pakistan remained hopeful that progress would be made towards reopening the strategic waterway, whose closure had disrupted global supply chains, particularly energy supplies.
The spokesperson said visits by Qatari and Omani officials to Tehran were part of broader diplomatic efforts aimed at promoting dialogue and a negotiated settlement.
He said mediators could facilitate talks, but the final decisions rested with Tehran and Washington.
Regarding Pakistan-Iran trade amid US pressure, Andrabi said Islamabad was adhering to international law and its bilateral agreements with Tehran. He added that economic issues should form part of any broader settlement between Washington and Tehran.
The Foreign Office also rejected claims by India’s former Chief of Defence Staff about an alleged Indian drone strike near the strategic Kirana Hills site in Sargodha during the May 2025 conflict.
Andrabi described the claims as contradictory and made after the event, saying Pakistan’s air defence capabilities had prevented India from achieving its military objectives.
He said no strategic asset or sensitive infrastructure had been damaged in Pakistan, while the subsequent military response under Operation Bunyan-ul-Marsoos demonstrated the country’s ability to respond across the conflict spectrum.
He dismissed attempts to reinterpret the May 2025 conflict through selective accounts and dramatic portrayals, saying historical events should be established through evidence and facts.
Pakistan also lodged a protest with India over the demolition of sheds, benches and a walkway near the consular section of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.
Andrabi said the structures had been used by people visiting the mission for consular and visa services and described their removal as a violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
He rejected comparisons with Islamabad’s anti-encroachment operation in the Diplomatic Enclave, saying Pakistan had provided advance notice to all diplomatic missions, including the Indian High Commission, before removing unauthorised structures.
Pakistan is set to assume the chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) for a one-year term following the SCO Council of Heads of State summit in Bishkek from Aug 31 to Sept 1.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will attend the summit and hold bilateral meetings with the Kyrgyz leadership.
The main event of Pakistan’s tenure will be the SCO Council of Heads of State summit, which Islamabad is scheduled to host in 2027.
