Spokesman notes arrest of Indian nationals, says he has evidence of India-backed terror groups in country
Pakistan will play a role in efforts to promote peace in Gaza but will not be part of any initiative to disarm Hamas, Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Hussain Andrabi said Thursday.
At the weekly media briefing, he said Pakistan would only contribute to efforts to establish peace in Gaza and was not part of any decision against any group or organization.
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar had made it clear that while Pakistan would participate in the peace process, it would not join any initiative to disarm Hamas.
Dar expressed hope that the Gaza Peace Council would help ease the difficulties faced by the people of Gaza, the spokesman added.
Read also: Pakistan summons Afghan diplomat after Bajaur attack that killed 11 soldiers
Responding to a question, Andrabi said Pakistan had taken note of reports of the arrest of Indian national Nikhil Gupta, adding that Pakistan had evidence of India-backed terror groups operating in the country.
Regarding Afghanistan, the spokesman said that no decision had been taken regarding the international security force and rejected speculation in this regard.
Separately, it was stated that Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal represented Pakistan at the swearing-in ceremony of the new government in Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, eight Muslim countries, including Pakistan, strongly condemned Israel’s controversial law related to the annexation of the West Bank, the spokesman added.
Read more: Bangladesh FM thanks Dar for ‘warm congratulations’, seeks closer relations
Andrabi further said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was in New York on a visit to the United States at the invitation of President Donald Trump and would attend a meeting of the Gaza Peace Council later in the day.
The prime minister was also expected to hold meetings with senior US officials. Dar is also in New York, the spokesman said, adding that he met Palestinian Permanent Representative and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty during his visit.
Ahead of a visit to Austria, the DPM held separate phone calls with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and Abdelatty to discuss regional developments, Andrabi said.
The spokesman further informed that the Prime Minister visited Vienna at the invitation of the Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker earlier and a joint statement was issued at the end of the visit. During the trip, the Prime Minister met Rafael Mariano Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
