Spokesman says national security and protection of Pakistani citizens are more important than any commercial activity.
The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tahir Hussain Andrabi. PHOTO: Radio Pakistan
The Ministry of External Affairs has clarified that Afghan transit trade remains closed and will remain closed until there is a significant improvement in the security situation along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. At the weekly press briefing, FO spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said the decision was motivated by recent armed attacks launched from across the border that claimed Pakistani lives.
“We regret the difficulties faced by traders and businessmen. Common people are also affected by the unavailability of essential commodities,” Andrabi said. “But at the border points with the Afghan transit trade, armed attacks were carried out against Pakistan, killing Pakistanis. This hurts us badly. For us, the lives of Pakistanis are more important than any traded product.”
The spokesperson emphasized that national security and the protection of Pakistani citizens are more important than any trade-related concerns. “We have to have a very clear priority on Afghan transit trade and our security. The lives of Pakistanis and our security are the most important thing,” he said.
Andrabi appreciated the constructive role of Qatar and Turkiye in mediating the recent discussions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, describing them as a “first step in ensuring regional peace and stability.” He said the talks focused on immediate measures to end cross-border terrorism emanating from Afghanistan and restore peace along the border.
The FO spokesperson added that Pakistan hopes to establish a “concrete and verifiable follow-up mechanism” during the next round of talks, scheduled for October 25, 2025 at Turkiye in Istanbul, with the aim of curbing terrorist activities from Afghan soil.
“As a responsible State, committed to regional peace and stability, Pakistan does not seek escalation,” Andrabi said, urging the Afghan Taliban authorities to honor their international commitments and take verifiable measures against terrorist groups, including the TTP/FAK and the BLA/FAH.
Pakistan condemns Israel’s West Bank annexation plan
The FO also strongly condemned Israel’s attempt to extend its so-called “sovereignty” over parts of the occupied West Bank, including illegal Israeli settlements, through a bill introduced in the Israeli legislature.
Andrabi called the move a “flagrant violation of international law and UN resolutions,” reaffirming Pakistan’s unwavering support for the Palestinian cause. “We also reaffirm our unwavering support for the Palestinian cause, including the establishment of an independent, sovereign, viable and contiguous State of Palestine based on the pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital,” he stated.
Pakistan reiterated its commitment to work with regional and international partners to defend the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people and ensure peace, justice and dignity in the region.
During the briefing, Andrabi also shared details of the Polish Deputy Prime Minister’s visit to Pakistan.
The Polish MPD expressed his country’s keen interest in expanding cooperation with Pakistan in various sectors, noting that Polish investment in Pakistan’s petrochemical industry currently exceeds $500 million. He also suggested collaboration on water treatment technologies and praised Pakistan’s efforts to promote regional peace and stability.
The Polish deputy prime minister appealed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who highlighted the decades-long cordial relations between the two nations. The Prime Minister praised Poland’s industrial advancement and expressed Pakistan’s desire to further strengthen cooperation in trade, energy, defence, education, labor and other fields of mutual interest.
Both sides also discussed regional and international developments, including peace efforts in the Middle East and Ukraine. The Prime Minister reiterated Pakistan’s stance on peaceful resolution of disputes, including Kashmir, through dialogue, diplomacy and relevant UN resolutions, reaffirming Islamabad’s commitment to international law and humanitarian principles.
