Islamabad: Foreign Office Spokesperson Ambassador Sajjad Haider Khan has said that Pakistan is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of five crew members during the recovery operation of the hijacked vessel MT Honour 25 off the coast of Somalia.

This was stated by FO Spokesperson Ambassador Sajjad Haider Khan while addressing a weekly press briefing on Thursday.

FO Spokesperson said that Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar had a busy and substantive schedule in New York during the High-Level Week of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly from 21-25 September 2026, with a series of high-level bilateral and multilateral engagements and addresses covering key regional and global issues. The details of his engagements will be shared by the DPM/FM in a press briefing tomorrow.

He said that turning to developments since our last briefing, under Pakistan's Chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State for 2026-27, the first meeting of the SCO Council of National Coordinators was held in Islamabad from 28-30 September 2026. The National Coordinators reviewed activities and key initiatives under Pakistan's Chairmanship, discussed preparations for upcoming SCO meetings, and exchanged views on strengthening coordination and practical cooperation in line with the theme, 'Turning Vision into Action: Connectivity, Innovation and Shared Prosperity.'

Sajjad Haider Khan said that as part of the programme, the SCO delegations visited the Pakistan National Council of the Arts and Naseer Bunda Hockey Stadium, where they were briefed on Pakistan's cultural heritage and preparations for the SCO Hockey Tournament, scheduled for 20 November-2 December 2026.

He said that on 30 September 2026, the National Coordinators also called on Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, who highlighted Pakistan's priorities for its SCO Chairmanship and its commitment to working closely with all Member States to advance the Organization's objectives.

Sajjad Haider Khan said 'I would now like to share an update regarding a tragic incident involving Pakistani crew members off the coast of Somalia. Pakistan is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of five crew members during the recovery operation of the hijacked vessel MT Honour 25 off the coast of Somalia. Three of the deceased are Pakistani nationals - Rafi Ullah Khan, Syed Kashif Umer and Mahmood Ahmed Ansari. Four crew members, including three Pakistanis, were also injured and are receiving medical treatment. The surviving crew members were initially brought ashore at Bandar Beyla and now safely brought to the Garowe city, where the injured are being treated'.

He said that the Government and people of Pakistan extend their deepest condolences to the bereaved families and pray for the departed souls to rest in peace. The Government remains in close contact with the Somali authorities and other stakeholders to facilitate medical care for the injured, repatriation of the mortal remains, and safe return of the surviving Pakistani crew members.

Sajjad Haider Khan said 'Let me now turn to the DPM/FM's bilateral engagements over the past two weeks. Over the past two-weeks, different Ambassadors called on the DPM/FM at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar met with the Ambassador of Trkiye to Pakistan, Mr. Irfan Neziroglu on 18 September. The two sides discussed the evolving regional situation as well as progress under various bilateral institutional mechanisms aimed at advancing cooperation across a range of areas'.

He said that the DPM/FM also received the British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Ms. Jane Marriott. The two sides discussed Pakistan-UK relations, understandings reached during the DPM/FM's recent visit to the United Kingdom, and ways to further strengthen bilateral cooperation. Regional and international developments of mutual interest were also discussed.

Sajjad Haider Khan said in addition to these engagements, the DPM/FM also spoke with different leaders during period. On 19 September, Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The two Foreign Ministers discussed the latest regional developments.

He said that the DPM/FM stressed the importance of uninterrupted energy supplies and the safe and expeditious passage of ships, particularly given their implications for developing countries and global supply chains. He also underscored that dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable means of ensuring peace and stability in the region.

He said that on the same day, the DPM/FM also spoke with Malaysian Foreign Minister Dato' Seri Mohamad Hasan. The two Ministers discussed Pakistan-Malaysia bilateral relations, with particular focus on expanding trade and economic cooperation.

He said that separately, on 21 September 2026, Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi visited Tehran, where he held meetings with Iranian officials to discuss bilateral relations and regional developments. The visit focused on strengthening Pakistan-Iran cooperation and exchanging views on the evolving regional situation.

Sajjad Haider Khan said at the bilateral level, the 8th Round of the Pakistan-France Joint Security Commission was held in Islamabad on 22 September 2026, led by Defence Secretary, and Secretary General for Defence and National Security (SGDSN), respectively. The two sides reviewed bilateral security and defence cooperation, exchanged views on regional security developments, and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in line with the Pakistan-France Roadmap for Bilateral Cooperation (2023), including counter-terrorism and combating transnational organized crime. They agreed to continue bilateral dialogue and hold the next round of the Commission in France on mutually agreed dates. In the same vein, the fifth round of Pakistan-Denmark Bilateral Political Consultations was also held in Copenhagen on 23 September.

The two sides reviewed bilateral relations and cooperation in trade and investment, green transition, energy, people-to-people contacts, consular matters, and multilateral affairs. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the positive trajectory of relations and agreed to further enhance mutually beneficial cooperation, maintain close coordination, and sustain the momentum of bilateral engagement. He said that these engagements reflect Pakistan's continued diplomatic outreach, our commitment to strengthening bilateral partnerships, and our active engagement at the multilateral level, particularly during the High-Level Week of the United Nations General Assembly.

He said that Pakistan strongly condemns the arbitrary action and attempts to demolish portions of the historic Shahi Masjid in Madhya Pradesh, India. The FO Spokesperson also condemned the use of force against members of the Muslim community who were peacefully protesting against the attempted demolition.

He said the incident is particularly concerning in the context of an increasingly troubling pattern of arbitrary actions affecting Muslim places of worship and their religious and cultural heritage in India.

Ambassador Sajjad Haider Khan said the invocation of administrative practices and rubber-stamping by the compliant judiciary cannot obscure the Islamophobic and Hindutva-driven pattern of persecution of minorities, manifested in threats to their places of worship, cultural heritage, and religious practices.

He said Pakistan calls upon the international community to take immediate cognizance of the continued targeting of Muslims and their places of worship in India.

He said that, rather than creating conditions in which the religious heritage of minority communities is progressively placed under threat, Indian authorities must fulfill their obligations and ensure the protection of minorities, their places of worship, and their fundamental religious freedoms.

Answering another question, the Foreign Office Spokesperson rejected India's attempt to spread confusion through the misleading characterization of the Court of Arbitration's recent award, which has unanimously and firmly affirmed that the Indus Waters Treaty remains in full force and is binding upon both parties, and that India must observe its treaty obligations, including those governing the design and operation of hydroelectric projects on the Western Rivers.

He said India cannot escape the binding awards of the Court of Arbitration through unilateral pronouncements or by smokescreening its disregard for binding treaty obligations and adjudicatory outcomes through concocted and misleading narratives.

Replying to another question, the Foreign Office Spokesperson said Pakistan is a responsible member of the international community, adheres to, and shall continue to adhere to, all applicable sanctions regimes in accordance with international as well as domestic laws.

He said Pakistan reaffirms its commitment to a rule-based international system rooted in multilateralism and international law, and that it remains in constant and constructive communication with all relevant stakeholders.

Ambassador Sajjad Haider Khan said Pakistan highly values its enduring and multifaceted strategic partnership with the United States and remains fully committed to further strengthening its longstanding diplomatic, economic, and security ties with Washington.

The Foreign Office Spokesperson said Pakistan, being a mediator in communication between Iran and the United States, shall continue to urge both sides to exercise restraint, resolve outstanding issues through dialogue and diplomacy, and honour their respective commitments under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.