Andrabi says Iranian leadership appreciated Pakistan’s efforts towards de-escalation, peaceful resolution of conflict
FO spokesperson Tahir Andrabi addresses a weekly press briefing in Islamabad. Photo: Screengrab
The Foreign Office (FO) on Thursday rejected claims that Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir visited Iran as an envoy of United States President Donald Trump or Washington, saying the visit was undertaken in the context of Islamabad’s ongoing mediation efforts between the US and Iran.
“I would also highlight that claims by certain quarters that the Chief of Army Staff and the Chief of Defence Forces visited Iran as envoy of President Trump or the US are misleading and factually incorrect, as his visit was undertaken purely in the context and backdrop of Pakistan’s ongoing role as a mediator,” Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said during his weekly briefing in Islamabad.
He said the Iranian leadership had appreciated Pakistan’s efforts towards de-escalation and a peaceful resolution of the conflict, adding that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar had also remained engaged with regional counterparts alongside Pakistan’s mediation efforts.
Andrabi also rejected what he described as “self-contradictory and retrospective claims” by a former Indian chief of defence staff regarding Kirana Hills and India’s military objectives during the May 2025 conflict.
He said Pakistan’s layered air defence network had effectively thwarted India’s military objectives during Marka-e-Haq, while Pakistan’s subsequent response under Operation Bunyanum Marsoos demonstrated its ability to impose costs across the conflict spectrum.
“No strategic asset or sensitive infrastructure was compromised in Pakistan,” Andrabi said.
He said attempts to retrospectively recast the events through selective narratives or dramatised productions could not alter the verifiable operational record of May 2025.
Andrabi said FM Dar had remained engaged with counterparts in the region as part of Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts.
“On August 14, FM Dar spoke with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, primarily discussing bilateral relations and regional developments,” he said.
He said that FM Dar also spoke three times with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on August 17, 19 and 25, focusing on regional developments, cooperation and the importance of dialogue and diplomacy for regional peace and harmony.
“On August 24, FM Dar spoke with his Kuwaiti counterpart, Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, reaffirming close bilateral ties and discussing regional developments, with an emphasis on dialogue, diplomacy and implementation of the Islamabad MOU,” he added.
Andrabi said FM Dar was in London for an official visit to the UK focused on Pakistan-US relations, regional and international developments, maritime security, Commonwealth engagement and outreach to British parliamentarians and the Pakistani community.
“In London, FM Dar met the IMO Secretary-General and sought urgent and effective institutional intervention for the safe release of 10 Pakistani seafarers aboard MTB Honour who were being held captive by Somali pirates,” he said.
Adnrabi further said that FM Dar thanked the IMO Secretary-General for his support for efforts to secure the safe release of the seafarers and called for urgent and effective institutional intervention for their early return.
The discussions also covered Pakistan-IMO cooperation in maritime security, regulatory reforms and the blue economy.
On August 26, Dar met a group of cross-party Pakistani-origin British parliamentarians. Discussions covered Pakistan-UK relations, the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts for peace in the Middle East, the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement and recent developments in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), including economic development, youth employment and governance.
Dar also met Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the Commonwealth and its principles, particularly youth development, climate resilience, economic development and intra-Commonwealth trade.
Both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in youth development under Pakistan’s co-chairmanship of the Commonwealth Youth Ministers’ Meeting.
Andrabi said Dar also briefed the Commonwealth secretary-general on Pakistan’s role in facilitating peace between the United States and Iran.
Bilateral and multilateral engagement
Andrabi said Dar had held a number of telephone conversations with foreign counterparts and the United Nations secretary-general.
On August 19, Dar spoke with the Mauritanian Foreign Minister, discussing bilateral relations, multilateral affairs and cooperation, while reaffirming the commitment to strengthening bilateral ties.
The same day, he held a telephone conversation with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on matters of mutual interest, reaffirming Pakistan’s support for multilateralism and the central role of the United Nations.
On August 20, the Brazilian Foreign Minister called Dar. They discussed Pakistan’s mediatory role, efforts for regional and national peace and security and multilateral cooperation, and agreed to strengthen mutual ties.
On August 23, Dar spoke with Uzbek Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov about bilateral matters and the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit. They reaffirmed close ties and agreed to meet on the sidelines of the summit.
Andrabi also recalled the visit of Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani to Pakistan from August 19 to 20, describing it as the first visit by a Syrian foreign minister following the formation of the new Syrian government.
Dar and his Syrian counterpart reviewed bilateral relations and agreed to strengthen institutional engagement and cooperation. The Syrian foreign minister also called on the prime minister and held meetings with Pakistan’s interior, commerce and defence leadership.
Pakistan reaffirmed its support for Syria’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.
Makkah Joint Defence Agreement
Asked about possible interest from other countries in joining the Makkah Pact, Andrabi said the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement was a defensive framework aimed at safeguarding peace and promoting regional stability.
He said the agreement, as an evolving security architecture, remained open to countries that shared commitments to collective obligations and common security interests.
“Any formal request will be considered in consultation with our partners in Riyadh and Ankara,” he said, adding that the operationalisation of the agreement remained at an early stage.
Afghanistan
Pakistan remained open to state-level dialogue with Afghanistan but said any bilateral mechanism would depend on “tangible actions rather than mere assurances”, Andrabi said.
He was responding to a question about a proposal by Afghanistan’s interim government for a dedicated bilateral mechanism to address contentious issues.
“For any dialogue to take place, Afghan Taliban must ensure that Afghan soil is not used to perpetrate terrorism against Pakistan,” Andrabi said.
He said Kabul must honour its international commitments, including those under the Doha framework, and ensure that Afghan soil was not used by hostile proxies, particularly the TTP and BLA, against Pakistan.
“We remain ready for institutional coordination, provided it results in tangible and verifiable counter-terrorism measures and effective border management,” he said.
Middle East
Pakistan joined Arab and Islamic countries in several joint statements issued over the previous two weeks, Andrabi said.
On August 16, eight Islamic countries, including Pakistan, condemned Israel’s rejection of the roadmap for implementing the US comprehensive plan for Gaza and its rejection of Palestinian statehood.
They called for the immediate implementation of the plan, an end to the war and progress towards a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders.
On August 22, 11 Islamic countries joined a statement condemning Israeli strikes in Syria as a violation of Syrian sovereignty and territorial integrity. They called for respect for the 1974 disengagement agreement and international action to prevent further escalation.
On August 21, eight Islamic countries condemned Israel’s settlement policies, particularly the E1 plan, warning that settlement expansion threatened Palestinian territory, contiguity and statehood.
They reaffirmed the two-state solution and called for urgent international action to halt settlement activities.
Multilateral affairs
Andrabi said Pakistan and France held a dialogue on multilateral affairs in Paris on August 13, with discussions focusing on UN reforms, sustainable development, global development financing, peacekeeping and counter-terrorism.
Both sides agreed to enhance coordination at multilateral forums, with Ambassador Nabeel Munir leading the Pakistani delegation.
On August 17, Pakistan assumed the presidency of the UN Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, taking up the final presidency of the 2026 session.
Andrabi said Pakistan was steering substantive negotiations on the conference’s agenda, while also negotiating the annual report and preparing and finalising the UN General Assembly resolution on the work of the conference.
He also expressed sorrow over the loss of lives and damage to infrastructure caused by recent floods in Nepal, saying the president, prime minister and deputy prime minister had conveyed their condolences and that the nation shared the grief of the people of Nepal.
