Spokesperson notes arrest of Indian national, says he has evidence of presence of Indian-backed terrorist groups inside country
Pakistan will play a role in efforts to promote peace in Gaza but will not participate in any initiative aimed at disarming Hamas, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said on Thursday.
Speaking at the weekly press briefing, he said Pakistan would only contribute to efforts aimed at establishing peace in Gaza and was not part of any decision against any group or organization.
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar made it clear that while Pakistan would participate in the peace process, it would not join any initiative to disarm Hamas.
Dar expressed hope that the Gaza Peace Council would help alleviate the difficulties faced by the people of Gaza, the spokesperson added.
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Replying to a question, Andrabi said Pakistan had taken note of reports regarding the arrest of Indian national Nikhil Gupta, adding that Pakistan had evidence that Indian-backed terrorist groups were operating inside the country.
On Afghanistan, the spokesperson said no decision had been made regarding the International Security Assistance Force, dismissing speculation on the matter.
Meanwhile, it was stated that Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal represented Pakistan at the swearing-in ceremony of the new government of Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, eight Muslim countries, including Pakistan, strongly condemned Israel’s controversial law on the annexation of the West Bank, the spokesperson added.
Learn more: Bangladesh FM thanks Dar for ‘warm congratulations’, seeks closer ties
Andrabi further said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was in New York for a visit to the United States at the invitation of President Donald Trump and would attend a meeting of the Gaza Peace Council later in the day.
The Prime Minister was also due to meet senior US officials. Dar is also in New York, the spokesperson said, adding that he met Palestinian Permanent Representative and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty during his visit.
Ahead of a visit to Austria, the DPM held separate telephone conversations with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and Abdelatty to discuss regional developments, Andrabi said.
The spokesperson further said that the Prime Minister visited Vienna earlier at the invitation of Austrian Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker and a joint statement was issued at the end of the visit. During the trip, the Prime Minister met with Rafael Mariano Grossi, director of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
