ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan reiterated that it did not seek hostility towards Afghanistan, but made clear that any significant improvement in bilateral relations depended on Kabul providing concrete, verifiable and written guarantees that its territory would not be used for terrorist purposes against Pakistan.
This position was expressed on Thursday during the weekly press briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where spokesperson Tahir Andrabi stressed that Islamabad’s concerns over Afghanistan were narrowly focused on security and not rooted in political or ideological differences.
“Pakistan does not wish to be hostile to Afghanistan,” the spokesperson said, emphasizing that Kabul’s only demand is to fulfill its fundamental responsibility as a state: preventing terrorist groups and individuals from using Afghan soil to carry out attacks in Pakistan.
He said Pakistan did not have bilateral disputes with Afghanistan comparable to those it faces with India, adding that once the problem of terrorism was resolved through credible assurances and demonstrable actions, there would be “huge potential” for cooperation in trade, connectivity and regional integration.
Andrabi said Pakistan welcomed recent positive statements from Kabul but could not rely on rhetoric alone. “Declarations must be backed by concrete, verifiable and written assurances,” he said, adding that the absence of such commitments explained Islamabad’s continued caution despite its willingness to engage bilaterally and through trilateral mechanisms, involving China.
He confirmed that diplomatic channels with Kabul remained open, with embassies and consulates functioning normally, and said Pakistan continued to positively engage Afghanistan in regional forums, including the China-Afghanistan-Pakistan trilateral dialogue.
On defense cooperation with Saudi Arabia, the spokesperson played down reports suggesting that Pakistan was in talks to convert Saudi loans into a deal involving JF-17 Thunder fighter jets.
“Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy strong and multifaceted relations, including in the field of defense,” Andrabi said, but added that he was not aware of any specific agreement regarding the sale of aircraft or adjustment of financial obligations.
Such a development, he said, would be confirmed once it materializes. Andrabi also said he had no information regarding Pakistan’s possible commitment to deploy additional troops to Saudi Arabia, despite the evolving security situation in the region.
The spokesperson categorically refuted the Indian foreign minister’s allegations that Pakistan was operating terrorist training centers in urban areas. Dismissing the remarks as “irresponsible and misleading”, Andrabi accused New Delhi of trying to divert attention from its own record.
He said India’s statements were aimed at obscuring recently emerged documentary evidence suggesting New Delhi had sought third-party intervention to secure a ceasefire with Pakistan during the May conflict. “No amount of bluster can obscure India’s manufactured counter-terrorism narrative,” he added.
The spokesperson accused India of acting as a “serial disruptor of peace”, citing allegations of extrajudicial killings abroad, interference in the internal affairs of neighboring states and involvement in terrorism in Pakistan. He also mentioned the case of Kulbhushan Jadhav and accused India of providing safe haven to wanted criminals.
On Jammu and Kashmir, Andrabi reiterated Pakistan’s support for the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination, marking the recent celebration of the Right to Self-Determination Day. He described India’s continued control over the region as an “illegal occupation” characterized by repression, mass detentions and systematic human rights violations.
He sharply criticized India’s unilateral actions on August 5, 2019, calling them an attempt at demographic engineering to disenfranchise Kashmiris in violation of international law. Pakistan, he said, will continue to raise the issue at international forums and extend moral, political and diplomatic support to the Kashmir cause.
Addressing questions on regional diplomacy, Andrabi highlighted the recent visit of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to China, where both sides reaffirmed their mutual support on their core interests and agreed to upgrade the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to version 2.0.
He said China recognized Pakistan’s sacrifices in the fight against terrorism and reiterated its support for Islamabad’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, while both countries called for visible action against terrorist groups operating from Afghan soil.
The spokesperson also raised Pakistan’s concerns over India’s reported actions affecting rivers governed by the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), reiterating that the treaty remains a binding international instrument with no provision for unilateral suspension. Pakistan, he said, will continue to report any violations through diplomatic channels and relevant international forums.
