Islamabad: Foreign Office (FO) has said International Arbitration Court has supported Pakistan stance in regard to Indus Basin Treaty (IBT).
On the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), FO spokesperson said that India cannot selectively accept or reject international decisions, asserting that the recent ruling by the international arbitration court in The Hague strongly supports Pakistan's position on the Indus Waters Treaty, this was said by FO spokesperson Tahir Andrabi during weekly press briefing here Wednesday.
Andrabi said Pakistan welcomed the ruling and maintained that India's rejection of the decision amounted to disregard for international law and the sanctity of agreements.
'The decision on the Indus Waters Treaty is very clear,' the spokesperson said, adding that India could not choose which international rulings to follow according to its convenience.
He held Field Marshal Asim Munir's recent visit to Tehran as part of Pakistan's peace efforts. The visit was manifestation of serious efforts by Pakistan to end tension. Discussions during the visit focused on facilitating the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, reducing regional tensions and pursuing a negotiated settlement.
FO spokesperson also briefed on the trilateral cooperation mechanism established under the Makkah Agreement. A meeting of the committee formed under the agreement was held in Istanbul on August 31, where Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Trkiye agreed to work jointly on matters of mutual interest.
The secretariat of the cooperation mechanism will be established in Saudi Arabia, while Pakistan will hold the secretary general's position for three years, he said.
Clarifying reports about the agreement's name, Andrabi said it had not been changed. The issue related only to how the agreement is referred to in different languages, including Turkish, Arabic and English.
Pakistan will officially host the next Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State Summit in Islamabad in 2027.
The subject of Pakistan S CO chairmanship is translating vision into practice, coordination, innovation and joint prosperity.
He said Pakistan remains optimistic about a peaceful resolution to the escalating tensions between the United States and Iran and will continue its efforts to promote dialogue and diplomacy
Islamabad had not abandoned hopes for a diplomatic solution despite the recent escalation between Washington and Tehran.
Pakistan has played an active role in efforts to facilitate a peaceful resolution. In June, it helped mediate the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, while Islamabad had earlier brokered a ceasefire between Washington and Tehran in April.
The April truce halted the most intense phase of fighting, but intermittent attacks, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, have since complicated efforts to reach a lasting peace agreement.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit to discuss the evolving regional situation
He added that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar had also held discussions with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The two officials had previously exchanged views on the situation in the Middle East and the Gulf during the Makkah summit in Istanbul.
On Afghanistan, Andrabi said China's special representative for Afghanistan had been in Islamabad and met Pakistan's Special Representative for Afghanistan, Ambassador Mohammad Sadiq.
He described the address delivered by Afghanistan's charg© d'affaires at the National Defence University as a routine engagement, noting that diplomats and ambassadors regularly visit universities.
'There should not be any attempt to read more into it,' he said, describing the matter as a 'non-issue'. Andrabi also said he was unaware of any post made by the Afghan envoy on X.