ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan has reiterated that it does not seek hostility with Afghanistan, but made it clear that any meaningful improvement in bilateral relations depends on Kabul providing concrete, verifiable and written assurances that its territory will not be used for terrorism against Pakistan.
The position was formulated on Thursday during the weekly press briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where spokesman Tahir Andrabi stressed that Islamabad’s concerns with Afghanistan are narrowly focused on security and not rooted in political or ideological differences.
“Pakistan does not want to be hostile to Afghanistan,” the spokesman said, stressing that the only demand from Kabul is the fulfillment of its basic responsibilities as a state: to prevent terrorist groups and individuals from using Afghan soil to carry out attacks in Pakistan.
He said Pakistan had no bilateral disputes with Afghanistan comparable to those it faces with India, adding that once the terrorism issue is resolved through credible assurances and demonstrable action, there exists “tremendous potential” for cooperation in trade, connectivity and regional integration.
Andrabi said Pakistan welcomed recent positive statements from Kabul but could not rely on rhetoric alone. “Statements must be backed by concrete, verifiable and written assurances,” he said, adding that the absence of such commitments explained Islamabad’s continued caution despite its willingness to engage bilaterally and through trilateral mechanisms involving China.
He confirmed that diplomatic channels with Kabul remain open, with embassies and consulates operating normally, and said Pakistan continued to engage Afghanistan positively in regional forums, including the trilateral China-Afghanistan-Pakistan dialogue.
On defense cooperation with Saudi Arabia, the spokesman downplayed reports suggesting Pakistan was in talks to convert Saudi loans into a deal involving JF-17 Thunder fighter jets.
“Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have a robust, multifaceted relationship, including in defense,” Andrabi said, but added that he was not aware of any specific agreement regarding the sale of aircraft or the adjustment of financial commitments.
Any such development, he said, would be confirmed when realized. Andrabi also said he had no information about any commitment from Pakistan to deploy additional troops to Saudi Arabia despite the evolving security situation in the region.
The spokesman issued a sharp rebuttal to claims by India’s foreign minister, who claimed Pakistan was running terrorist training centers in urban areas. Andrabi dismissed the remarks as “irresponsible and misleading” and accused New Delhi of trying to divert attention from its own record.
He said India’s statements were aimed at obfuscating newly emerged documentary evidence suggesting that New Delhi had sought third-party intervention to secure a ceasefire with Pakistan during the May conflict. “No amount of fuss can obscure India’s fabricated anti-terror narrative,” he added.
The spokesman accused India of acting as a “serial disturber of peace”, citing alleged extrajudicial killings abroad, interference in the internal affairs of neighboring states and involvement in terrorism in Pakistan. He also referred to the Kulbhushan Jadhav case and accused India of providing safe havens to wanted criminals.
On Jammu and Kashmir, Andrabi reiterated Pakistan’s support for the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination, marking the recent observance of Right to Self-Determination Day. He described India’s continued control of the region as an “illegal occupation” characterized by repression, mass incarceration and systematic human rights abuses.
He strongly criticized India’s unilateral actions on 5 August 2019, calling them an attempt at demographic engineering designed to disenfranchise Kashmiris in violation of international law. Pakistan, he said, will continue to raise the issue in international forums and extend moral, political and diplomatic support to the Kashmir cause.
On issues of regional diplomacy, Andrabi highlighted Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s recent visit to China, where both sides reaffirmed mutual support for core interests and agreed to upgrade the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to version 2.0.
He said China had recognized Pakistan’s sacrifices in the fight against terrorism and reiterated its support for Islamabad’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, while both countries called for visible action against terrorist groups operating from Afghan soil.
The spokesman also touched upon Pakistan’s concerns regarding India’s reported actions affecting rivers governed by the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), and reiterated that the treaty remains a binding international instrument with no provision for unilateral suspension. Pakistan, he said, will continue to raise any violations through diplomatic channels and in relevant international forums.
