Spokesperson notes Indian national’s arrest, says has evidence of India-backed terrorist groups inside the 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 Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said on Thursday.
Speaking at the weekly media briefing, he said Pakistan would only contribute to efforts aimed at establishing peace in Gaza and was not part of any decision against any group or organisation.
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 Board of Peace would help ease the hardships faced by the people of Gaza, the spokesperson added.
Also Read: Pakistan summons Afghan diplomat over Bajaur attack killing 11 soldiers
Responding to a question, Andrabi said Pakistan had taken note of reports regarding the arrest of Indian national Nikhil Gupta, adding that Pakistan had evidence of India-backed terrorist groups operating inside the country.
On Afghanistan, the spokesperson said no decision had been taken regarding the International Security Assistance Force, dismissing speculation in this regard.
Separately, it was stated that Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal represented Pakistan at the oath-taking 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 spokesperson added.
Read More: Bangladesh FM thanks Dar for ‘warm felicitations’, seeks closer relations
Andrabi further said 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 for the Gaza Board of Peace later in the day.
The PM was also expected to hold meetings with senior US officials. Dar is also in New York, the spokesperson said, adding that he met the Palestinian permanent representative and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty during his visit.
Ahead of a visit to Austria, the DPM held separate telephone conversations with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and Abdelatty to discuss regional developments, Andrabi stated.
The spokesperson further briefed that the PM visited Vienna at the invitation of Austrian Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker earlier, and a joint statement was issued at the conclusion of the visit. During the trip, the prime minister met Rafael Mariano Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
