Islamabad says participation is in “good faith”; A possible Trump meeting on the sidelines
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry on Thursday confirmed the presence of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar at the Gaza Peace Council meeting, saying they were participating in good faith.
Earlier, sources said The Express PK Press Club that Sharif is expected to travel to Washington next week to attend the inaugural Peace Council summit, as Pakistan intensified diplomatic ties on Wednesday, with Dar holding separate telephone conversations with his Turkish and Iranian counterparts amid evolving regional developments.
The sources said that there is also a possibility of a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Trump at the White House on the sidelines of the summit.
Pakistan’s participation reflects what officials describe as a cautious but proactive diplomatic posture as the country faces shifting geopolitical alignments. They say Islamabad intends to use the platform to reiterate its position on key international issues, including support for Palestinian self-determination, an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and a lasting political solution based on international law.
Besides the Gaza peace plan, the prime minister is likely to discuss tensions between Iran and the United States with President Trump, with Pakistan among the regional countries engaged with relevant stakeholders to ease tensions between Washington and Tehran.
Speaking at the Foreign Ministry briefing today, spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said of Israel’s presence at the forum: “The decision of the Israeli Prime Minister to participate in the Gaza Peace Council is his. We do not comment on his decision.”
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“We never announced a visit by the Prime Minister to Munich, Germany. It is unfortunate to politicize cricket or use it as a tool. Our decision not to play India was to ensure that this game was not a weapon. India intended to use cricket as a weapon against Bangladesh,” he said.
Andrabi confirmed that the President of Uzbekistan visited Pakistan following an invitation from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. “Pakistan and Uzbekistan have agreed to increase bilateral trade to two billion dollars,” he said, adding that the preferential trade agreement between the two countries has been further expanded.
He also noted that the President of Kazakhstan recently visited Pakistan and met with the Prime Minister and the President. “Security and defense issues were discussed and the two countries agreed to conduct joint military exercises,” he said, adding that the two sides agreed to increase bilateral trade to $1 billion.
Andrabi said that Finance Minister Ishaq Dar spoke with the Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan and had two discussions with the Iranian Foreign Minister.
On defense issues, the spokesperson said that former Army Chief General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa was injured after a fall at his residence. “He is currently undergoing treatment at CMH,” Andrabi said.
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On legal and regional security issues, Andrabi confirmed that Pakistan’s legal team attended the hearings at the Court of International Arbitration in The Hague. “India has been invited to participate under the Indus Waters Treaty, and its participation is mandatory,” he said, adding that Pakistan has reiterated that both sides must adhere to the treaty.
On India, he said it was unfortunate that mob killings of Muslims had been ignored. He said that last year 55 Muslims lost their lives and local authorities often turned a blind eye. Andrabi called on the Indian government to conduct independent investigations and bring those responsible to justice.
He also cited the reports of the UN 1267 Sanctions Committee, saying that the de facto Afghan administration supports TTP operations against Pakistan. “The report confirmed the free movement of TTPs in Afghanistan and their actions against Pakistan,” he said, also highlighting the collaboration between groups such as Qatna al-Hindustan, Qatna al-Khawarij and BLA.
Andrabi added: “We have already appreciated the role of the United States in the 90-hour war with India. We have shot down Indian fighter jets, as confirmed by the manufacturers. Any future aggression from India will be met with a strong response.”
He said the mastermind of ISIS is present in Afghanistan and participating in operations against Pakistan, and Pakistan also took note of the Indian Foreign Ministry’s statement on the Islamabad blast, which he said focused on justifications rather than facts.
Clarifying territorial issues, Andrabi said, “The internationally recognized map of Pakistan and India is available on the United Nations website. »
On economic issues, he said: “The UAE has raised the issue of loan renewal. We can assure that, thanks to the positive efforts of Ishaq Dar, the UAE has agreed to renew the loan.”
The spokesperson added that Defense Minister Khawaja Asif’s statement is detailed and diplomacy continues even amid skirmishes and war. “We do not want Afghan territory to be used against Pakistan.”
Regarding Iran’s recognition of Afghanistan, Andrabi said: “We are not aware of Iran’s decision to recognize Afghanistan. However, it is the prerogative of any country to recognize another country or not.”
