Islamabad says participation is in ‘good faith’; Possible meeting with Trump on the sidelines
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry on Thursday confirmed the attendance of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar at the Gaza Peace Board meeting, saying they are participating in good faith.
Previously, sources said The express PAkGazette Sharif will travel to Washington next week to attend the Peace Board’s inaugural summit, while Pakistan intensified diplomatic outreach on Wednesday with Dar holding separate telephone talks with his Turkish and Iranian counterparts amid evolving regional events.
Sources said there is also a possibility of a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Trump at the White House on the sidelines of the summit.
Pakistan’s participation reflects what officials describe as a cautious but proactive diplomatic stance as the country navigates shifting geopolitical alignments. They say Islamabad intends to use the platform to reiterate its stance on key international issues, including support for Palestinian self-determination, an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and a sustainable political solution based on international law.
In addition to the peace plan for Gaza, the prime minister is likely to discuss tensions between Iran and the United States with President Trump, as Pakistan is among the countries in the region engaged with relevant actors to ease tensions between Washington and Tehran.
Speaking at the Foreign Ministry briefing today, spokesman Tahir Hussain Andrabi said of Israel’s presence at the forum: “The Israeli Prime Minister’s decision to participate in the Gaza Peace Board is his own. We do not comment on his decision.”
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“We have never announced a visit by the Prime Minister to Munich, Germany. It is unfortunate to politicize cricket or use it as a tool. Our decision not to play against India was to ensure that the game is not a weapon. India intended to use cricket as a weapon against Bangladesh,” he said.
Andrabi confirmed that the President of Uzbekistan visited Pakistan at the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. “Pakistan and Uzbekistan have agreed to increase bilateral trade to two billion dollars,” he said, adding that the preferential trade agreement between the two countries has been further expanded.
He also noted that the President of Kazakhstan recently visited Pakistan and met both the Prime Minister and the President. “Security and defense issues were discussed and both countries agreed to conduct joint military exercises,” he said, adding that the two sides agreed to increase bilateral trade to $1 billion.
Andrabi said Finance Minister Ishaq Dar held talks with Azerbaijan’s Economy Minister and two talks with the Iranian Foreign Minister.
On defense issues, the spokesperson said former Army Chief General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa suffered an injury after a fall at his residence. “He is currently receiving treatment at CMH,” Andrabi said.
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On legal and regional security matters, Andrabi confirmed that Pakistan’s legal team attended hearings at the Court of International Arbitration in The Hague. “India was invited to participate under the Indus Waters Treaty, and its participation is mandatory,” he said, adding that Pakistan reaffirmed that both sides must adhere to the treaty.
Commenting on India, he said it was unfortunate that the killings of Muslims by mobs had been ignored. He said that last year, 55 Muslims lost their lives and local authorities often turned a blind eye. Andrabi called on the Indian government to carry out independent investigations and bring those responsible to justice.
He also cited reports of the UN 1267 Sanctions Committee, saying that the Afghan administration is de facto supporting TTP operations against Pakistan. “The report confirmed the TTP’s free movement in Afghanistan and its actions against Pakistan,” he said, also noting collaboration between groups such as Qatna al-Hindustan, Qatna al-Khawarij and BLA.
Andrabi added: “We have previously appreciated the role of the United States in the 90-hour war with India. We shot down Indian fighter jets, confirmed by the manufacturers. Any future aggression by India will receive a strong response.”
He said that the ISIS mastermind is present in Afghanistan and supporting operations against Pakistan, and that Pakistan has also taken note of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs’ statement on the Islamabad blast, which he said emphasized justifications over facts.
To clarify the territorial issues, Andrabi said: “The internationally recognized map of Pakistan and India is available on the United Nations website.”
On economic matters, he said: “The UAE raised the issue of renewing the loan. We can assure you that due to the positive efforts of Ishaq Dar, the UAE agreed to renew the loan.”
The spokesperson added that Defense Minister Khawaja Asif’s statement is detailed and diplomacy continues even in the midst of skirmishes and wars. “We don’t want Afghan territory to be used against Pakistan.”
On Iran’s recognition of Afghanistan, Andrabi said: “We are not aware of Iran’s decision to recognize Afghanistan. However, it is the prerogative of any country to recognize another country or not.”
