ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan on Thursday reiterated its stance on regional peace and relations with India on the first anniversary of “Marka-e-Haq”, describing it as a defining moment in the country’s national journey.
Referring to Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s message issued earlier in the day, Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Andrabi said during his weekly media briefing that the anniversary was “not just about remembering the past; it is about shaping the future”.
“The spirit of Marka-e-Haq lives not only in our history but in each one of us,” he said.
Responding to questions about the future security environment in South Asia, Andrabi said Pakistan had consistently emphasized the importance of diplomacy and dialogue to resolve all bilateral disputes with India.
“Pakistan’s position on all bilateral issues with India is anchored in international law, the UN Charter and relevant UN Security Council resolutions,” he said.
He argued that Pakistan’s position on issues ranging from Jammu and Kashmir to flood waters, arms control, disarmament and humanitarian affairs involving prisoners was rooted in legal and political legitimacy.
“When we approach our bilateral relations with India with such legal and political validity, we are not talking about war. We are not talking about clashes. We are talking about dialogue and diplomacy,” Andrabi said.
At the same time, he warned that Pakistan would respond strongly to any aggression.
“But if an aggression, which happened exactly one year ago, is forced upon us, Pakistan will respond, and will respond with full force and all available means,” he said, adding that the message was “very clear” to Pakistan’s adversary in the neighborhood.
Regarding the US-Iran peace process, the spokesman said Pakistan remained optimistic about the ongoing diplomatic efforts between Iran and the US, expressing hope that an agreement between the two sides could be reached “sooner than later.”
“We remain optimistic. A simple answer would be that we expect a deal sooner rather than later,” he said.
His statement came amid reports that Iran and the United States were closer to agreeing on a “one-page memorandum” to end the war permanently.
Pakistan remains at the center of backchannel diplomacy as messages and proposals have been exchanged between Iran and the US via Islamabad.
The spokesman said Pakistan hoped the parties would reach a “peaceful, sustainable solution” that would bring stability not only to the region but also to the wider international community.
However, Andrabi declined to share any details about the nature or scope of the possible deal, saying Pakistan, as a facilitator, was bound by confidentiality.
“Look, I don’t know if it’s a one-pager or a two-pager … it would also depend on the font; larger font goes on to two pages,” he jokingly noted.
“It is not for us to discuss or reveal the details of the content of conversations,” he added.
“As an honest facilitator and mediator, it is incumbent upon us to maintain trust in respective positions.”
The spokesman stressed that Islamabad would “jealously guard” any sensitive information related to the talks and would not break the trust that either side had in it.
