Islamabad: Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi has said that Pakistan does not seek further escalation of hostilities but expects the Afghan Taliban regime to honour its commitment to the international community, and address Pakistan's legitimate security concerns by taking concrete and verifiable actions against terrorist entities.
This was stated by FO Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi while addressing the weekly press briefing on Friday.
FO Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said that at the invitation of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, led a high-level delegation, comprising Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar and senior Cabinet Ministers, to Riyadh from 27 to 29 October 2025 to participate in the Ninth Edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII9) Forum. The FII9 Forum, under the theme of 'The Key to Prosperity: Unlocking New Frontiers of Growth,' convened global leaders, investors, policymakers, and innovators. Deliberations focused on addressing global challenges and opportunities on innovation, sustainability, economic inclusion, and geopolitical shifts.
FO Spokesperson said that during the visit, the Prime Minister held a meeting with the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia.
Upon conclusion of their meeting, a joint statement was issued that outlined the launch of an Economic Cooperation Framework between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. The framework is based on the two countries shared economic interests and their mutual desire to strengthen trade and investment relations. The framework would entail several strategic and high-impact projects pertaining to economic, trade, investment and development fields with a special focus on energy, industry, mining, IT, tourism, agriculture and food security. It is a testament to the efforts of both countries to strengthen their longstanding and time-tested fraternal relations and their shared vision towards building a sustainable partnership in the field of economic diplomacy. Both countries also look forward to the convening of meeting of Saudi-Pakistani Supreme Coordination Council and are in the process of studying several joint economic projects, including the signing of MoUs on electricity interconnection projects and energy cooperation.
FO Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said that in Riyadh, the Prime Minister also met the President and the CEO of the World Economic Forum, B¸rge Brende. B¸rge Brende invited the Prime Minister to the Annual Meeting of World Economic Forum at Davos in January 2026.
The Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar also held important engagements in Riyadh. He met with the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, in Riyadh on 28th October 2025. The two leaders discussed bilateral relations, regional and international developments, including the situation in Gaza, and reaffirmed their shared commitment to cooperation at multilateral fora, including the United Nations. They agreed to further deepen Pak-Saudi multifaceted partnership across all domains and continued strengthening of the bonds of brotherhood and friendship between the two countries. The Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister also inaugurated the upgraded Consular Hall and One-Window MRP Service at the Embassy of Pakistan in Riyadh. This reflects government's commitment to better community facilitation and provision of more efficient and accessible public service delivery to the Overseas Pakistanis.
FO Spokesperson said that during the week, Ishaq Dar held telephonic conversations with his counterparts from Algeria, Trkiye and Canada.
The Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister received a call last evening from Canadian Foreign Minister Ms. Anita Anand. The two leaders discussed strengthening bilateral trade and investment, including sectors such as agriculture and mines and minerals, and collaboration under the Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPPA). Canadian Foreign Minister thanked Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister for facilitating market access to Canadian canola exports to Pakistan.
Both leaders appreciated recent constructive engagements, reaffirmed their commitment to advancing mutually beneficial economic cooperation, and agreed to remain in close contact. The Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister also spoke to the Foreign Minister of Algeria, Ahmed Attaf, on 29th October 2025. Expressing satisfaction at the positive trajectory of bilateral cooperation, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening Pak-Algeria relations, and enhance coordination in multilateral fora, including the United Nations.
The Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister also received a telephone call from his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, during which the two leaders discussed the evolving situation in Gaza, and the next steps and modalities for achieving lasting peace in Palestine. The Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, invited the Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister to Trkiye for the forthcoming meeting next week of the eight Foreign Ministers of partner countries who were engaged on the sidelines of UNGA80 in the diplomatic process on Gaza.
FO Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said that the second round of talks between Pakistan and Afghan Taliban regime, in the presence of mediators, concluded in Istanbul on Thursday. Pakistan participated in the Istanbul talks, which started on 25th October, in a good spirit and with a positive intension. The Istanbul round was initially scheduled for two days. However, in an effort to reach an amicable agreement with the Taliban regime, Pakistan side, in earnest, continued the talks for four days.
He said that Pakistan positively engaged with the Taliban regime, without compromising on its clearly stated position that Afghan soil should not be used for terrorism against Pakistan. Pakistan does not seek further escalation of hostilities but expects the Afghan Taliban regime to honour its commitment to the international community, and address Pakistan's legitimate security concerns by taking concrete and verifiable actions against terrorist entities.
FO Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said that it is highlighted that for the past four years, Pakistan has been urging the Taliban regime to take decisive and effective measures against the terror outfits present on Afghan soil. We repeatedly shared credible information about the presence of top leadership of terrorists on Afghan soil with the Taliban regime. However, despite repeated assurances in the past, there has been a surge in terrorist attacks in Pakistan from Afghanistan.
The consistent and total disregard of Pakistan's legitimate security concerns by the Afghan Taliban regime for the past four years and the unprovoked aggression against Pakistan with the support of Fitna al-Khwarij on 11th and 12th October and later on 14th and 15th October lead to violent exchanges across the international border. Pakistan decisively responded to Afghan provocations aimed at destabilizing the border areas, facilitating terrorism, and furthering the Fitna al-Khwarij's nefarious designs. Pakistan will respond resolutely if provocations continue in the future.
He said that Pakistan has always been desirous of a peaceful, stable, regionally integrated and prosperous Afghanistan, which is at peace with itself and its neighbours. With the Taliban takeover of Kabul in August 2021, we expected the vision of regional peace and connectivity to be realized.
He said that in the same spirit, despite our various security concerns, Pakistan took many initiatives this year to support and help Afghanistan, and extended a number of concessions to Afghanistan, especially for Afghan transit trade. We also elevated our diplomatic representation with Afghanistan from Cd`A to the Ambassador level and also agreed to extend CPEC to Afghanistan. The Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister visited Kabul thrice, including on 17 July to sign the agreement on the Joint Feasibility Study of Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) Railway project. He said that the Government and armed forces of Pakistan stand ready to take all possible measures to protect Pakistan's sovereignty, and ensure safety and security of its people.
FO Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said that Pakistan would continue to remain engaged in the mediation process and hopes for a positive outcome for the 6th November talks. Pakistan highly appreciates the constructive role of brotherly countries of Qatar and Trkiye. They have been making their best efforts for an amicable and peaceful resolution of the issue.
He said that this week, Israel continued violations of Gaza Peace Agreement. Pakistan strongly condemns these renewed attacks by Israeli occupation forces in Gaza, which have reportedly resulted in numerous civilian casualties. These actions constitute a flagrant and clear violation of international law, as well as a breach of recently concluded peace agreement. Such aggressive measures by Israeli occupation forces threaten to undermine the international efforts aimed at establishing durable peace and stability in the region. Pakistan calls upon the international community to ensure an immediate cessation of ceasefire violations by Israeli occupation forces.
He said that Pakistan also reiterates its principled position for the establishment of an independent, sovereign, viable, and contiguous State of Palestine, based on pre-June 1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
FO Spokesperson said that Pakistan solemnly observed the 78th anniversary of Kashmir Black Day on 27th October 2025, recalling the actions of the Indian forces on 27 October 1947 which led to the illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir. We condemn 78 years of occupation, state-terrorism, and human rights abuses in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, and reaffirm our moral, diplomatic, and political support for the Kashmiri people enduring decades of suffering in their just struggle for the right to self-determination under the UN Security Council Resolutions. We would also like to express our profound gratitude and appreciation to the OIC and the OIC-IPHRC for their consistent support to Pakistan's principled position on Jammu and Kashmir dispute and the Kashmiri people's legitimate exercise of their right to self-determination.
Tahir Andrabi said that a wide range of activities, including seminars, webinars, panel discussions, and photo op exhibitions, were organized throughout the country and by Pakistan's missions abroad, highlighting the plight of innocent Kashmiris in the face of systematic oppression and brutality perpetrated by Indian occupation forces. In their special messages on the occasion, the President, the Prime Minister, and the Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister underscored Pakistan's steadfast resolve to continue extending moral, diplomatic and political support to the Kashmiri people in their just struggle. They urged the international community to play its due role in pressing India to end its illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir, halt its grave human rights violations, and cease all repressive measures against the Kashmiri people.
Tahir Andrabi said that Ishaq Dar also addressed letters to the President of the United Nations General Assembly, the President of the UN Security Council, the UN Secretary-General, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the Secretary-General of the OIC, apprising them of the grave human rights situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. A special Kashmir Solidarity Walk was organized from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a special briefing was held for members of the Diplomatic Corps in Islamabad.
The observance of 27th October as a Black Day serves as a reminder of India's unlawful assault on Jammu and Kashmir. It also marks an occasion to pay solemn tribute to the resilience of the Kashmiri people who, despite decades of oppression, remain steadfast in their struggle for the right to self-determination.