Web Desk/AFP

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said Thursday that the burden of ending its conflict with Afghanistan lay with Kabul, as the two sides held preliminary talks to try to end hostilities, AFP reported. Negotiations started in Urumqi, in northwest China, on Wednesday, after Pakistan&#39;s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar travelled to Beijing for talks with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi. Pakistan foreign ministry spokesman Tahir Hussain Andrabi told reporters in the capital that the government hoped for a &quot;durable solution&quot;. &quot;Our participation (in talks) is a reiteration of our core concerns,&quot; he said. &quot;The burden of real process, however, lies with Afghanistan, which must demonstrate visible and verifiable actions against terrorist groups using (its) soil against Pakistan.&quot; &#39;Working level talks&#39;He described the negotiations as &quot;working level talks&quot; and said they were ongoing. &quot;Our delegation has not returned yet,&quot; he added. Pakistan and Afghanistan announced a pause in fighting to mark the end of Ramadan last month, at the request of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey. But sporadic attacks have been reported in remote border areas since the temporary truce ended. The Taliban government denies providing sanctuary to extremists. Saudi Arabia and Qatar have previously attempted to reduce tensions since the conflict escalated in February, while talks in Istanbul last November also failed. Diplomatic efforts Pakistan has stepped up its diplomatic efforts last week to resolve ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, Persian Gulf, and Iran, holding high-level meetings, bilateral discussions, and regional consultations, according to the Foreign Office. In this connection, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held multiple telephone conversations with counterparts across the region and beyond, said Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi on Thursday at a weekly briefing. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2039592679106118039&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=168e1d0df7ebef6d7d47a4459e676e075d0574eb&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 641px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>According to the spokesperson, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted the second round of four-party consultations with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Egypt.&nbsp; The first meeting had been held in Riyadh on March 19.&nbsp; Before the group discussions, the visiting ministers held bilateral meetings with Prime Minister Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister Dar. The talks covered the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, efforts to de-escalate violence, and strategies to promote peace and diplomacy.&nbsp; Pakistan reaffirmed its strong ties with Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Egypt, emphasizing regional cooperation and coordination across multiple areas of mutual interest.&nbsp; The formal consultations ran 15 minutes longer than scheduled, signaling the depth of the discussions. Key points from the talks included calls for an early end to the war, recognition of the devastating impact on civilian lives, and the importance of Muslim unity.&nbsp; Deputy Prime Minister&nbsp;Dar briefed the visiting ministers in Islamabad on potential US-Iran talks, which were met with full support.&nbsp; The ministers agreed on dialogue as the primary path to prevent conflict, uphold the UN Charter, and strengthen mutual cooperation. A major development last week was Deputy Prime Minister Dar&rsquo;s visit to China at the invitation of Foreign Minister Wang Yi.&nbsp; Despite medical advice to rest due to an injury, Dar held in-depth discussions on regional and bilateral issues, including Afghanistan.&nbsp; A milestone outcome was a five-point peace initiative by China and Pakistan, emphasizing the immediate cessation of hostilities, humanitarian assistance, the security of civilians, a commitment to dialogue, and adherence to the UN Charter.&nbsp;The initiative highlighted the importance of safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. The week also saw extensive telephone diplomacy, the Foreign Office spokesperson said.&nbsp; Prime Minister Sharif spoke with leaders, including the Crown Prince of Kuwait, Iran&rsquo;s President, and the President of the European Council.&nbsp; Discussions focused on Pakistan&rsquo;s mediation efforts, peace initiatives, and regional de-escalation. Deputy Prime Minister Dar held calls with Chinese, Egyptian, Turkish, Qatari, Indonesian, Iranian, and UN officials, emphasizing diplomacy as the only viable path to sustainable peace.&nbsp; Notably, Iran allowed 20 additional Pakistan-flagged ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a move hailed as a constructive gesture toward regional stability. On another front, said the spokesperson, eight foreign ministers from Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, UAE, Indonesia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar issued a joint statement condemning Israel&rsquo;s restrictions on Muslim and Christian worship in Jerusalem, including at Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.&nbsp; The statement reaffirmed the legal and historical status of Jerusalem&rsquo;s holy sites and called on the international community to press Israel to halt violations. These developments, said the Foreign Office spokesperson, underscore Pakistan&rsquo;s active role in promoting regional diplomacy and conflict resolution, while reinforcing strategic partnerships with key regional and global actors, it was said at the briefing.

Foreign Affairs

Pakistan intensified its diplomatic efforts last week to address ongoing hostilities in the Middle East, the Persian Gulf, and Iran, engaging in high-level meetings, bilateral talks, and regional consultations.

Pakistan says onus on Afghanistan to end hostilities

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Foreign Office has rejected claims by the United States intelligence community that its missile program could evolve into a threat to the US mainland, calling the assertion unfounded and inconsistent with ground realities. In an official statement issued on Thursday, the Foreign Office said Pakistan &ldquo;categorically rejects the recent assertion by a United States official alleging a potential threat from Pakistan&rsquo;s missile capabilities,&rdquo; stressing that its strategic posture remains &ldquo;exclusively defensive in nature.&rdquo; The statement came in response to remarks by US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who presented the 2026 Annual Threat Assessment before the Senate Intelligence Committee. In her testimony, Gabbard said countries including Pakistan were developing missile systems that could &ldquo;put our Homeland within range,&rdquo; adding that Islamabad&rsquo;s program &ldquo;potentially could include ICBMs with the range capable of striking the Homeland.&rdquo; Islamabad, however, dismissed the suggestion, emphasising that its missile program &ldquo;remains well below intercontinental range&rdquo; and is &ldquo;firmly rooted in the doctrine of credible minimum deterrence vis-&agrave;-vis India.&rdquo; <div class="fr-embed youtube-embed"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/phgIZRs_FbY?si=KOC7ubJOD5TZ8_nO" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="" style="width: 100%; height: auto; aspect-ratio: 16 / 9; max-width: 100%; display: block;"></iframe>&nbsp;</div> &ldquo;It is emphasised that Pakistan&rsquo;s strategic capabilities are exclusively defensive in nature, aimed at safeguarding national sovereignty and maintaining peace and stability in South Asia,&rdquo; the statement said. The Foreign Office further underscored that Pakistan&rsquo;s deterrence posture is shaped by regional dynamics, particularly its long-standing rivalry with India, rather than any ambition to project power globally.&nbsp; &ldquo;Its missile programme&hellip; is firmly rooted in the doctrine of credible minimum deterrence vis-&agrave;-vis India,&rdquo; it reiterated. Available data on Pakistan&rsquo;s missile inventory supports this position. The country&rsquo;s systems largely fall within short- to medium-range categories, including the Hatf series, from Hatf-I (around 65 km) to Hatf-VI (up to 2,750 km), alongside platforms such as Ghauri (approximately 1,500 km) and Shaheen variants. These ranges are consistent with regional deterrence requirements rather than intercontinental reach. Former foreign minister Jalil Abbas Jilani also challenged the US assessment, stating that the claim that Pakistan could target the US homeland is &ldquo;not grounded in strategic reality.&rdquo;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2034379652568076743&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=8d334dc59eb73c935824fa120059f6a38bd11a4a&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 321px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>He added that Pakistan&rsquo;s nuclear doctrine is &ldquo;India specific aimed at maintaining credible deterrence in South Asia, not projecting power globally.&rdquo; While the US assessment broadly highlights the expansion of global missile capabilities, including by China, Russia, North Korea, Iran and Pakistan, Islamabad argues that such grouping overlooks critical differences in doctrine and intent.&nbsp; The report itself notes that these countries are modernizing delivery systems and may extend ranges over time, but does not cite concrete evidence of an operational shift toward intercontinental targeting by Pakistan. The Foreign Office urged Washington to adopt &ldquo;a more measured and considered approach that aligns with South Asia&rsquo;s strategic imperatives,&rdquo; warning that overstating threats risks mischaracterising regional security dynamics. &ldquo;Pakistan remains committed to constructive engagement with the United States, anchored in mutual respect, non-discrimination, and factual accuracy,&rdquo; the statement said. By framing its missile capabilities within a regional deterrence context, Islamabad has sought to counter what it views as an &ldquo;alarmist narrative,&rdquo; maintaining that its strategic posture is designed to preserve stability in South Asia, not to extend its reach beyond it.

The Foreign Office says Pakistan’s missile program remains below intercontinental range, is India-focused under minimum deterrence, and lacks intent or capability to target the US, urging a more measured, fact-based assessment of regional security dynamics.

Pakistan rejects US missile threat claim, cites defensive doctrine

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan passed on to Iran Saudi assurances that their territory would not be used for attacks against it. This resulted in minimal or no attacks by Iran on Saudi Arabia and Oman during the recent escalation, said Pakistan&rsquo;s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Tuesday.&nbsp;Addressing a media briefing at the Foreign Office in Islamabad, the foreign minister said that Pakistan remains engaged in &quot;shuttle communication&quot; to de-escalate the recent situation in the Middle East.&nbsp;&nbsp;Dar said he spoke with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, and mentioned the Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed in September 2025.&nbsp;&nbsp;Based on the agreement, Dar said that he sought assurances from the Saudis and passed them on to the Iranian side, reiterating that Saudi territory would not be used for attacks against Iran. Because of these assurances, he said, there have been minimal or no Iranian attacks on Saudi Arabia and Oman during the recent escalation.&nbsp;In the session, the foreign minister said that he has been in contact with foreign ministers of Turkey, the Maldives, Bangladesh, Palestine, Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Iraq, Azerbaijan, and Bahrain, as well as representatives from the European Union, to promote diplomacy and dialogue.&nbsp;Regarding Afghanistan, Dar said that Pakistan continues to pursue regional connectivity, specifically a rail project connecting Uzbekistan to Pakistan via Afghanistan.&nbsp;He expressed disappointment that the current Afghan regime has failed to prevent its soil from being used by terrorist groups like the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).&nbsp;Addressing concerns about stranded Pakistanis in Iran and the Gulf region amid the fluid security situation, Foreign Minister Dar noted that, with the exception of Oman and Saudi Arabia, most airspace in the region is currently closed.&nbsp;To assist stuck citizens, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has activated its Crisis Management Unit, which is operational 24/7.&nbsp;&nbsp;The minister said that 792 Pakistanis have already returned from Iran through various border points: 694 via Taftan, 59 via Ramdan, and 39 via Astara. Additionally, 46 students returned through Taftan and 62 through Ramdan, he added.&nbsp;Because the northern part of Iran is closer to Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijan government is providing &quot;Visa on Arrival&quot; and logistical support to Pakistanis, he added. So far, 64 Pakistanis have reached Azerbaijan from Iran; 42 have arrived in Lahore via Azal Airlines&nbsp;&lsquo;Unwarranted&rsquo;Earlier, Foreign Minister Dar sharply condemned the recent attack on Iran and the martyrdom of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, calling for an immediate halt to regional escalation through diplomacy.&nbsp;Addressing the Senate, Dar described the Feb. 28 strike against Iran as &quot;unwarranted&quot; and expressed deep concern over the violation of international law, noting the &quot;age-old convention&quot; that heads of state should not be targeted.&nbsp;&quot;The government and the people of Pakistan join the people of Iran in their hour of grief and sorrow,&quot; Dar said, following a formal statement of condolence from the prime minister.&nbsp;The deputy prime minister revealed that, prior to the escalation, Pakistan had been actively mediating between the United States and Iran, alongside Oman.&nbsp;&nbsp;He noted that IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi had expressed optimism about the &quot;positive direction&quot; of the talks during a recent meeting in Austria.&nbsp;Dar told the Senate that Pakistan has consistently advocated for Iran&#39;s right to the &quot;peaceful use of nuclear energy.&quot; He disclosed that Pakistan had argued against the total destruction of Iran&#39;s nuclear infrastructure, supporting the 3.67% enrichment level previously accepted under the JCPOA, provided it remained under international surveillance.&nbsp;According to Dar, both Washington and Tehran had previously expressed willingness to use Islamabad as a venue for mediation.

Security

Pakistan passed on to Iran Saudi assurances that its territory would not be used for attacks against it, resulting in minimal or no attacks by Iran on Saudi Arabia and Oman during the recent escalation

Pakistan passed on Saudi assurances to Iran of no use of territory: Dar   

Muhammad Imad Abbas

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will participate in upcoming talks between Iran and the United States aimed at easing escalating tensions, the Foreign Office confirmed on Thursday.&nbsp;In a statement to Pakistan TV Digital, a Foreign Office spokesperson said Pakistan has been invited to take part in the Iran-US engagement and will be &ldquo;taken on board during the talks.&rdquo;&nbsp;Relations between Tehran and Washington have sharply deteriorated in recent weeks, following anti-government protests in Iran and a subsequent security crackdown. US President Donald Trump has warned of possible military action if tensions continue to escalate.&nbsp;The United States has also reinforced its military presence in the Middle East, including the deployment of an aircraft carrier group, amid growing concerns over regional stability.&nbsp;Publicly addressing the situation, Trump said he remained open to diplomacy but issued a warning if talks fail. &ldquo;I hope we&rsquo;re going to work something out,&rdquo; he said, adding that &ldquo;bad things would happen&rdquo; if no agreement is reached.&nbsp;Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran supports negotiations under clear conditions. &ldquo;I have instructed my Minister of Foreign Affairs, provided that a suitable environment exists, one free from threats and unreasonable expectations, to pursue fair and equitable negotiations,&rdquo; he said in a post on X.&nbsp;He added that the diplomatic effort was initiated following requests &ldquo;from friendly governments,&rdquo; underscoring Iran&rsquo;s stated preference for dialogue while maintaining it would respond decisively to any aggression.&nbsp;Pakistan has traditionally positioned itself as a proponent of regional diplomacy and de-escalation, particularly in matters affecting Middle East stability.

Pakistan will participate in upcoming talks between Iran and the United States aimed at easing escalating tensions, the Foreign Office confirmed on Thursday

Articles tagged with "Pakistan Foreign Office"

Pakistan says onus on Afghanistan to end hostilities

Pakistan rejects US missile threat claim, cites defensive doctrine

Pakistan passed on Saudi assurances to Iran of no use of territory: Dar

Pakistan joins Iran-US talks as tensions rise: Foreign Office

Pakistan says onus on Afghanistan to end hostilities