Islamabad: Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi has said that Pakistan will play role for peace in Gaza but we will not be included in disarming Hamas.
This was stated by Tahir Hussain Andrabi while addressing the Weekly Press Briefing on Thursday.
He said that at the invitation of U.S. President Donald J. Trump, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif is visiting Washington, D.C. to attend the inaugural session of the Board of Peace. The Prime Minister is accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, other Ministers and senior officials. In addition to attending the inaugural session of the BOP, the Prime Minister will also interact with senior U.S. leadership, as well as his counterparts attending the meeting. The occasion will provide an opportunity for discussions on matters of bilateral as well as global issues of concern.
We will keep you posted of the Prime Minister’s engagements in the United States in the coming hours.
FO Spokesperson said that Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister was in New York on Wednesday for hectic one-day engagements at the United Nations. He attended a high-level briefing of the United Nations Security Council on the situation in Palestine, chaired by the UK Foreign Secretary in her capacity as the Council’s President. We just now issued a Press Release on the event. On the sidelines, he held bilateral meetings with counterparts to discuss issues of mutual interest. His first such meeting was with Ambassador Riyadh Mansour, Permanent Representative of the State of Palestine to the United Nations. Riyadh Mansour thanked Pakistan for its steadfast and principled support for the Palestinian cause, including at the UN, and appreciated its leading role in advocating for the Palestinian people at all fora.
The DPM/FM also met Foreign Minister of Egypt Badr Abdelatty.
They reviewed bilateral relations and expressed satisfaction with ongoing cooperation across multiple sectors, reaffirming the importance of close coordination. The two ministers also exchanged views on Gaza, the West Bank and regional developments, stressing adherence to international law and the need for immediate, unhindered humanitarian access.
The DPM/FM also met Sugiono, Foreign Minister of Indonesia. They reviewed bilateral ties and expressed satisfaction at the depth and strength of the longstanding brotherly relations between the two countries. The two leaders also exchanged views on regional and international developments, particularly the situation in Gaza and the West Bank, and agreed to work closely for a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in Palestine, in line with international law and relevant UN resolutions.
Ishaq Dar received a joint delegation of the Economic Pakistan American Council (E-PAC) and the United Muslim American Association (UMAA). DPM/FM acknowledged the significant role of the U.S. private sector in strengthening Pak-U.S. bilateral trade and economic cooperation. He also underscored the vital contribution of civil society organizations in promoting interfaith harmony, and deeper people-to-people ties between the two countries.
FO Spokesperson said that DPM/FM met Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, in Vienna. They discussed the vital role of the IAEA in advancing peaceful uses of nuclear technology and strengthening global nuclear safety and security. He also conveyed his best wishes for his continued efforts in promoting peaceful uses of nuclear technology and sustainable development.
Ishaq Dar spoke with Foreign Minister of Egypt, Dr. Badr Abdelatty and Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia, Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud. Discussions focused on the evolving regional situation, forthcoming international engagements, and agreed to remain in close contact.
He said that Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiative Prof Ahsan Iqbal attended the oath taking ceremony of Prime Minister of Bangladesh Tarique Rahman held in Dhaka on 17 February. He also met Prime Minister Rahman and conveyed warm felicitations and invitation from the Prime Minister to visit Pakistan at the earliest convenience. They also discussed to enhance cooperation across various domains including education, trade, connectivity, revival of SAARC, People to People and cultural exchanges.
Earlier in the day he called on the Chief Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus and invited him to visit Pakistan. He also met the Opposition Leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman at the Parliament building. He invited Dr. Rahman to visit Pakistan along with a Parliamentary delegation. On the morning of 18th February, he laid a wreath at the grave of late Begum Khaleda Zia and paid tribute to her contributions to the political landscape of Bangladesh and bringing people of Pakistan and Bangladesh closer.
The Minister also launched 40 publication of Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal’s in Bangla language on Pakistan High Commission’s website. During the event, he interacted with Pakistani students studying in Bangladesh.
Tahir Hussain Andrabi said that the Foreign Ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, the UAE, Indonesia, Trkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar strongly condemn Israel’s decision to designate large areas of the occupied West Bank as ‘state land’ and to expand settlement-related land registration. They describe the move as an illegal escalation aimed at accelerating settlements and consolidating control over occupied territory. The ministers stated that these actions violate international law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention, UN Security Council resolutions – particularly Resolution 2334 – and the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice. They reaffirms full support for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and for the establishment of an independent State of Palestine on pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.