The spokesperson notes the arrest of an Indian national and says he has evidence that there are Indian-backed terrorist groups within 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 Ministry spokesman Tahir Hussain Andrabi said on Thursday.
In his weekly media address, he said that Pakistan would only contribute to efforts aimed at establishing peace in Gaza and was not part of any decision against any group or organization.
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 his hope that the Gaza Peace Board would help alleviate the difficulties faced by the people of Gaza, the spokesperson added.
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Replying to a question, Andrabi said Pakistan had taken note of reports of the arrest of Indian national Nikhil Gupta, adding that Pakistan had evidence that Indian-backed terrorist groups were operating within the country.
On Afghanistan, the spokesperson said no decision had been made regarding the International Security Assistance Force, ruling out speculation on the matter.
On the other hand, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal was reported to have represented Pakistan at the swearing-in 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 Foreign Minister thanks Dar for his “warm congratulations” and seeks closer ties
Andrabi further said that 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 of the Gaza Peace Board later in the day.
The prime minister was also expected to hold meetings with senior US officials. Dar is also in New York, the spokesperson said, adding that he met with Palestinian permanent representative and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty during his visit.
Before a visit to Austria, the MPD held separate telephone conversations with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and Abdelatty to discuss regional developments, Andrabi said.
The spokesperson further reported that the Prime Minister previously visited Vienna at the invitation of Austrian Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker, and a joint statement was issued at the end of the visit. During the trip, the prime minister met with Rafael Mariano Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
