Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (FO) excluded any scheduled meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in China.
Addressing the weekly press briefing, the spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Shafqat Ali Khan, said that Pakistan and China have reaffirmed their commitment to further deepen their “strategic cooperative partnership” thanks to better bilateral, regional and multilateral cooperation.
Khan informed that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Islamabad on the invitation of the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Ishaq Dar on Thursday to co-resort the 6th Strategic Dialogue of Pakistani-China Foreign Affairs.
“The two parties have in depth examining the entire spectrum of bilateral relations, in particular phase II II, trade and economic links, multilateral cooperation, exchanges of people with population and important regional and global problems,” he said. He added that the two ministers agreed to maintain close coordination and communication on bilateral and multilateral forums.
During his visit, Yi also called President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz, and the chief of staff of the army, Marshal Asim Munnir. Zardari expressed his gratitude for the “constant support of China to the sovereignty of Pakistan, territorial integrity and national development” and appreciated the position of principle of Beijing on the dispute of Jammu-et-Cachemire, he added.
FO spokesperson also stressed the strategic importance of the Chinese-Pakistani Economic Corridor (CPEC) as part of the Belt and Road initiative of President Xi Jinping.
During the interaction of the Minister of Foreign Affairs with Prime Minister with Prime Minister Shehbaz, the two leaders reaffirmed mutual support on basic national interests. The PM reiterated Pakistan’s determination to extend cooperation with China in trade, ICT, agriculture, industrialization, mines and minerals and other sectors in Phase II of the CPEC, he added.
Khan stressed that at the meeting of the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs with the chief of staff of the army, discussions focused on regional security, the fight against terrorism and defense cooperation. The two parties underlined their determination to strengthen coordination on regional and international platforms.
FO spokesperson said the visit was part of high-level regular exchanges aimed at consolidating the Pakistani-Chinese partnership. He also informed that the 6th trilateral meeting of foreign ministers from Pakistan, China and Afghanistan was held on August 20, 2025 in Kabul.
“The three parties have undertaken to strengthen joint efforts to combat terrorism and have agreed to improve collaboration in trade, public transport, health, education, culture, the fight against drug trafficking and the extension of CPEC to Afghanistan,” he said.
On the sidelines, DPM DAR held a bilateral meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Muttaqi, noting progress in political and economic areas, but raising concerns concerning insufficient cooperation in counter-terrorism. The FO also stressed that the Minister of Foreign Affairs Ishaq Dar paid an official visit to the United Kingdom from August 17 to 19.
During the visit, he inaugurated digital land record services and a passport system at a window at the High Commissioner of Pakistan in London to facilitate the diaspora. He also discussed the British Pakistani lawyer forum, warning against India’s illegal attempts to suspend the Industry Water Treaty, which calls them “existential threat” for Pakistan.
The spokesperson confirmed that on August 12, Dar met Gregory Logerfo, acting coordinator for the fight against terrorism in the US State Department, as part of the Pakistan-US TERTERORISM dialogue. The two parties reaffirmed their common commitment to fight against terrorism, including the threats posed by the Balutchistan Liberation Army (Bla), the Islamic-Khorasan State and other groups.
Khan welcomed the American decision to designate the Black faction and His Majid Brigade as foreign terrorist organizations, calling it recognition of sacrifices and efforts to combat Pakistan terrorism for world security. Pakistan and China also organized the 10th round of bilateral weapons control consultations, non-proliferation and disarmament in Beijing on August 18.
The two delegations have discussed global and regional security, the strategic stability of South Asia and peaceful use of nuclear technology and space. The next round will be organized by Pakistan in 2026.
Khan also hosted the sentence of August 8, 2025 by the Arbitration Court on the Industry Water Treaty, which confirmed Pakistan’s interpretation of critical provisions and ruled against India’s attempts to maximize the volumes of waterproofing and bypassing the Treaty Restrictions. “This decision reaffirms the final and binding nature of the treaty and exposes India’s unilateral attempts to suspend its obligations,” he said.
The spokesman strongly condemned Israeli statements on the creation of a so-called “large Israel” and the displacement of Gaza Palestinians, calling them “a blatant violation of international law and United Nations resolutions”.
Answering a question about the recent declaration of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, Khan said that Pakistan completely rejects baseless innuendo, which called them another example of the “chronic trend of New Delhi to distort the facts and distort the declarations out of context”.
“The Indian account of the so-called nuclear blackmail is a selfish construction, of a misleading nature, and aimed at slandering Pakistan,” said the spokesperson. He stressed that Pakistan is a responsible state of nuclear weapons with a robust command and control system under full civil surveillance and has always “exercised a deduction and discipline on questions of such importance”.
He stressed that “supported and credible anti -terrorist efforts from Pakistan are internationally recognized”, noting that its security forces have acted as a bulwark against terrorism not only for Pakistan but also for regional stability and world security.
He also criticized the “saber-dratling and the war master of India whenever the annoying facts”, adding that unfounded allegations and manufactured stories “reflect the lack of diplomatic confidence of New Delhi”. He said that India’s attempt to involve third countries in his propaganda is a futile effort to put pressure on Pakistan by distortion of the facts.
Contrant the approach of India with Pakistan, the spokesman stressed: “Pakistan will continue to act as a responsible member of the international community. However, any act of Indian aggression or violation of the sovereignty of Pakistan and territorial integrity will meet with an immediate and matching response. The burden of all climbing will rest with the Indian leaders.
Khan concluded that instead of “provocative rhetoric”, India should focus on achieving its international obligations, in particular on issues of regional peace, control against terrorism and membership of binding international treaties such as the Industry Water Treaty.
