Islamabad: Pakistan remains actively engaged both with the US and Iran for the cause of peace and stability in the region and beyond, as stated by the Foreign Office. At his weekly news briefing in Islamabad, Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi underscored that the clock on diplomacy has not stopped but is functional.
According to Radio Pakistan, Tahir Andrabi emphasized that anything passing through the conduit of diplomatic channels in Pakistan is honestly communicated to the other side. He expressed hope for a negotiated settlement of the issue, encouraging direct negotiations between Iran and the US, and expressed optimism for stable relations between the two nations.
The Foreign Office Spokesperson also strongly condemned the unprovoked firing and shelling by Afghan forces in the border areas of South Waziristan, adjacent to Bannu district, including Angoor Adda. Efforts are ongoing to ensure the safety of local populations and prevent further incidents, Andrabi stated.
Responding to a question, Tahir Andrabi expressed concerns over the continued detention and imprisonment of Kashmiri leader Yasin Malik, as well as the rearrest and continued extension of three-decade old case against distinguished Kashmiri leader Shabbir Ahmed Shah. He called upon the international community to take notice of the situation and urged them to press India for the immediate release of Shabbir Shah Sahib, Yasin Malik Sahib, and all other political prisoners incarcerated for their voices on human rights and political freedoms.
Additionally, Andrabi strongly condemned the Indian illegal action in connection with the reported ban and sealing of Jamia Siraj-ul-Uloom. He stated that targeting this credible institution in the Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir is part of a broader policy by the occupying authorities aimed at undermining the socio-cultural and religious identity of the Kashmiri people. Andrabi remarked that these developments point to a persistent rise in Islamophobia in IIOJK and across India, reflecting a broad pattern of a far-right Hindutva-driven agenda.