Pakistan's position on negotiations with India remains clear, with the peace of South Asia dependent on resolving the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, the Foreign Office spokesperson said Wednesday.
“Pakistan is ready to provide full support as a responsible country within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO),” the spokesperson added, noting that Pakistan has proposed several initiatives to address the issue.
Who will represent Pakistan at UN?
The spokesperson also mentioned that details about Pakistan's representation at the upcoming UN General Assembly (UNGA) session and the UN Future Summit will be shared soon. "Pakistan has always supported the right of self-determination for the people of Jammu and Kashmir," the spokesperson reiterated.
SCO summit Islamabad
The PM has extended invitations to the heads of SCO member states, demonstrating Pakistan's commitment to regional cooperation.
On Afghanistan, the spokesperson declined to speculate on Pakistan's relations with its western neighbor but confirmed that foreign policy remains the federal government's domain. "It is the federal government's prerogative to carry out foreign policy," the spokesperson emphasized.
The spokesperson also highlighted multiple channels of communication between Pakistan and the U.S. government. "We continue to engage with the American administration through various avenues," they said.
Pak-Afghan ties
Regarding the recent border incident, the spokesperson confirmed an unprovoked attack by Afghanistan on the Pakistan-Afghan border on September 7, to which Pakistani forces responded strongly. "Diplomatic discussions on how to address this issue with Afghanistan are still ongoing," the spokesperson noted.
Sino-Pak ties
On the economic front, Pakistan and China have agreed to expand bilateral trade and economic relations. The spokesperson also underscored Pakistan's commitment to the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project, calling it vital for the country’s energy security. “Pakistan will continue to collaborate with its partners to bring this project to fruition,” the spokesperson added.
The spokesperson said they were awaiting further information regarding the status of Pakistani national Asif Merchant.
