Islamabad: Pakistan has strongly condemned unjustified and illegitimate aggression by Israel against the Islamic Republic of Iran. While addressing a weekly press briefing on Thursday, Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said that the Israeli military strikes violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran and clearly contravene the UN Charter and fundamental principles of international law. Iran has the right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter.

He said that Pakistan stands in resolute solidarity with the people of Iran and unequivocally denounces these blatant provocations, which constitute a grave danger and a serious threat to the peace, security, and stability of the entire region and beyond, with serious implications.

Shafqat Ali Khan said that the international community and the United Nations bear the responsibility to uphold international law, stop this aggression immediately and hold the aggressor accountable for its actions.

He said that in light of the rapidly evolving regional developments and the unprecedented escalation of tensions in the Middle East, particularly owing to the ongoing military aggression of Israel against Iran, the Foreign Ministers of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, the Kingdom of Bahrain, Brunei Darussalam, the Republic of Chad, the Union of the Comoros, the Republic of Djibouti, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Republic of Iraq, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the State of Kuwait, the State of Libya, the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the State of Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Federal Republic of Somalia, the Republic of Sudan, the Republic of Trkiye, the Sultanate of Oman, and the United Arab Emirates hereby affirm the following:

* The categorical rejection and condemnation of Israel's recent attacks on the Islamic Republic of Iran since the 13th of June 2025, and any actions that contravene international law and the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, while emphasizing the necessity of respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, adhering to principles of good neighborliness, and the peaceful settlement of disputes.

* The imperative need to halt Israeli hostilities against Iran, which come during a time of increasing tension in the Middle East, and to work towards de-escalation, to achieve a comprehensive ceasefire and restoration of calm, while expressing great concern regarding this dangerous escalation, which threatens to have serious consequences on the peace and stability of the entire region.

* The urgent necessity of establishing a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction, which shall apply to all States in the region without exception in line with relevant international resolutions, as well as the urgent need for all countries of the Middle East to join the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

* The paramount importance of refraining from targeting nuclear facilities that are under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards, in accordance with the relevant IAEA resolutions and United Nations Security Council decisions, as such acts constitute a violation of international law and international humanitarian law, including the 1949 Geneva Conventions.

* The urgency of a swift return to the path of negotiations as the only viable means to reach a sustainable agreement regarding the Iranian nuclear program.

* The importance of safeguarding the freedom of navigation in international waterways per the relevant rules of international law and refraining from undermining maritime security.

* That diplomacy, dialogue, and adherence to the principles of good neighborliness, in accordance with international law and the UN Charter, remain the only viable path to resolving crises in the region, and that military means cannot bring about a lasting resolution to the ongoing crisis.

FO Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said that Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar held telephonic conversations with the Foreign Minister of Iran, Seyed Abbas Araghchi; Foreign Minister of Trkiye, Hakan Fidan; Foreign Minister of Egypt, Badr Abdelatty; Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister of UAE, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan; and the UK Foreign Secretary, Rt Hon David Lammy MP.

He said that the leaders expressed deep concern over the deteriorating regional situation. They reaffirmed their commitment to work closely for maintaining peace and stability in the region and beyond. The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister highlighted the serious threats to peace and stability in the region and beyond, stemming from Israel's unjustified attacks on Iran. Leaders stressed the need to defuse tensions and prevent further escalation.

He said that the Foreign Secretary, Ambassador Amna Baloch, inaugurated the Regional Consultations on Responsible AI in Military Domain (REAIM) in Islamabad on 17 June 2025.

In her keynote remarks, the Foreign Secretary inter-alia underscored:

* Military AI is transforming warfare, but legal and political frameworks are lagging behind.

* This transformation was unfolding in a deeply fragile international landscape and was lowering threshold for use of force.

* In South Asia, autonomous weapon capabilities were used for the first time in a nuclear environment and was compressing decision time during crises.

* Global governance must remain anchored in the UN system; REAIM offers a valuable complement for Developing States' need for capacity-building and regional dialogue to ensure inclusive rule-making.

* Innovation in AI must be guided by principle of human control and judgment must remain paramount.

Shafqat Ali Khan said that 17 States from West, Central and South Asia, participated in the two-day Regional Consultations of REAIM, held in partnership with the Republic of Korea, the Netherlands and Spain.

He said that Ishaq Dar chaired a high-level meeting to review the status of ongoing assistance provided by Pakistan to the Palestinian people on 14 June 2025.

The DPM/FM expressed deep concern over the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza and West Bank, resulting from Israel's blatant violations of human rights. Reaffirming Pakistan's unwavering moral, political, and diplomatic support for the Palestinian cause, the DPM/FM emphasized on the need to enhance the provision of humanitarian relief to the Palestinian people as well as to extend educational assistance to the Palestinian students.

He said that Ishaq Dar chaired a high-level meeting on 13 June 2025 to review preparations for the upcoming 12th session of the Pakistan-UAE Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) to be held in Abu Dhabi on 24 June 2025. The meeting was attended by SAPM to DPM Office, Federal Secretaries of Economic Affairs, Commerce, Maritime Affairs, Interior, Inter-Provincial Coordination, National Heritage, and Health, along with senior officials from relevant ministries and departments, including MoFA, Overseas Pakistanis, Finance, Railways, Defence, and Tourism.

Shafqat Ali Khan said that discussions focused on advancing key bilateral initiatives, formalizing collaboration in existing sectors, exploring new avenues for cooperation, and attracting mutually beneficial UAE investment in priority areas. The DPM/FM reiterated Pakistan's firm commitment to strengthening Pakistan-UAE economic and trade relations.

He said that the fifth round of the Pakistan-European Union Dialogue on Non-Proliferation and Disarmament was held in Islamabad on 12 June 2025. The Pakistan delegation was led by Additional Foreign Secretary for Arms Control, Disarmament, and International Security (ACDIS), Ambassador Tahir Andrabi, while the European Union delegation was headed by EU Special Envoy for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation, Ambassador Stephan Klement.

He said that both sides engaged in a comprehensive exchange of views on issues related to international and regional peace, security, and strategic stability. Pakistan side briefed their EU interlocutors on developments in the wake of recent Pakistan-India conflict. The discussions also focused on various dimensions of disarmament and non-proliferation, with particular reference to the agenda of the UN General Assembly's First Committee, the Conference on Disarmament and International Conventions, including the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) and the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). The avenues for enhanced cooperation in the domain of Science Diplomacy were also explored.

Shafqat Ali Khan said that the Indian authorities continue to impose different curbs in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). On the occasion of Eid-al-Adha, the local people were not allowed to congregate at Srinagar's historic Jamia Masjid and Eidgah for the Eid prayers. The prayer leader and prominent Kashmiri leader, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, was also placed under house arrest. This was seventh consecutive year when the Eid prayers were not allowed at the said places.

Clearly, this oppressive measure is another example of the high-handed approach of the Indian authorities, and a violation of the fundamental rights of the Kashmiri people, including rights to freely practice their religion and peaceful assembly. We urge the Indian authorities to respect the fundamental rights of the Kashmiri people, and grant them their inalienable right to self-determination, as enshrined in the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.