Islamabad: Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi has said Pakistan's efforts for peace, dialogue and a lasting solution to the ongoing standoff in the Middle East and the Gulf Region continued.

In his weekly press briefing on Friday, Tahir Hussain Andrabi said that a Chinese delegation led by Vice Chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Cai Dafeng arrived in Islamabad on 20 May 2026 to participate in commemorative activities marking the 75th anniversary of Pakistan-China diplomatic relations. On Thursday, the visiting delegation called on Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif. You have been covering the visit of the Chinese delegation as well as the ceremony yesterday to mark this important landmark in our bilateral relations.

He said that Pakistan's efforts for peace, dialogue and a lasting solution to the ongoing standoff in the Middle East and the Gulf Region continued this week. He said that over the last week, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held two telephone conversations with the Emir of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.

He said that both sides exchanged views on bilateral cooperation and the evolving regional and international situation, particularly developments in the Middle East and Pakistan-led peace and de-escalation efforts. The two sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to dialogue and diplomacy as the only viable path to lasting peace and stability.

Tahir Andrabi said that Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar has remained actively engaged with his counterparts in line with our efforts to promote peace and pursue diplomatic channels.

He said that on May 18, the DPM/FM held telephone conversation with Qatari Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mohammad bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi on the evolving regional situation and matters of mutual interest. On May 17, the DPM/FM spoke with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty on the evolving regional situation and ongoing multilateral engagements. On May 16, he held telephone conversation with Uzbek Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov on bilateral ties and regional developments.

FO Spokesperson said that Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi undertook two important visits to Iran this week - on 16 May and later on 20 May. He held important meetings with the Iranian leaderships which you have covered extensively.

FO Spokesperson said that on 17th May, there were drone attacks on Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Pakistan condemned both the attacks and expressed full solidarity with the two brotherly countries. With respect to the UAE attacks, we underscored that any deliberate targeting of nuclear facilities constitutes a grave violation of international law, including international humanitarian law, the United Nations Charter, and the fundamental principles of nuclear safety and security enshrined in the Statute and resolutions of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Nuclear installations must never be targeted under any circumstances.

Tahir Andrabi said that the Government and people of Pakistan pay rich tribute to Shaheed Mirwaiz Molvi Mohammad Farooq and Shaheed Abdul Ghani Lone, who were martyred by the Indian occupation forces on 21 May 1990 and 21 May 2002, respectively in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. On this somber day - the anniversaries of their martyrdoms, we also remember the sacrifices of the victims of the Hawal massacre, in which 70 innocent Kashmiris carrying the coffin of Mirwaiz Molvi Mohammad Farooq were indiscriminately martyred by the Indian occupation forces.

Tahir Andrabi said that Pakistan salutes the courage of Shaheed Mirwaiz Molvi Mohammad Farooq, Shaheed Abdul Ghani Lone, and countless other Kashmiri martyrs who laid down their lives in pursuit of their inalienable right to self-determination.

He said that the lack of accountability for the gruesome killings of innocent Kashmiris and their leaders remains a festering injustice and a chilling example of the brazen impunity that defines the deplorable human rights situation in IIOJK. As we honor the invaluable sacrifices of innocent Kashmiris today, we also call upon the international community, international human rights organizations, and particularly the United Nations and its human rights mechanisms, to take cognizance of the dire humanitarian situation in IIOJK, hold India accountable for its reprehensible conduct, and ensure a just resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in line with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people.

Tahid Andrabi said that Pakistan has called for the release of all Kashmiri prisoners, human rights defenders, and civil society activists detained in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

Tahir Andrabi said Pakistan is deeply concerned by the continued politically motivated and questionable cases against the leadership of Kashmiris, Hurriyat leader Muhammad Yasin Malik, and others.

He said by suppressing legitimate Kashmiri political voices through arbitrary detentions and sham trials, harsh laws, India continues to misuse its judiciary to pursue a political vendetta against the Kashmiri leadership.

Tahir Andrabi said Pakistan, on its part, will continue to raise its voice and uphold the human rights cause of the people of Jammu and Kashmir at all international fora, including the United Nations, OIC, and other human rights bodies. He further urged the international bodies to uphold the principle that Kashmiris should not be punished for seeking their right to self-determination.

Responding to a question regarding the house demolitions of the indigenous people in IIOJK, Tahir Andrabi said there have been a series of violations, particularly against the Bakarwal community that has been living in the area for generations. He said violations of the Bakarwal community's rights, their displacement and occupation of their land are aimed at ensuring demographic change and having control over the natural resources of Jammu and Kashmir to further the economic exploitation of that territory.

The Spokesperson said Pakistan will raise this matter at the appropriate forums.

Replying to another question, the FO Spokesperson said Pakistan notes with satisfaction the supplemental award by the court of arbitration last week concerning the maximum pondage in the Indus waters treaty disputes relating to Ratle and Kishanganga projects. He said this award reaffirms Pakistan's long-standing position that the treaty imposes substantive limits on India's water-control capabilities over the western rivers. It clarifies that the pondage for run-of-river projects must be justified on the basis of genuine operational needs, hydroelectric and hydraulic conditions, power system requirements, and treaty-mandated information. He said the award also strengthens Pakistan's review rights by affirming India's obligations to promote sufficient information and explanation to establish treaty compliance. He said Pakistan also notes the court's earlier determination that its awards are final, binding and authoritative for subsequent treaty processes.

Tahair Andrabi said Pakistan remains firmly committed to the Indus water treaty, its dispute resolution mechanisms and the procedural resolution of water related issues. He said Pakistan will continue to safeguard its rights under the treaty and ensure that projects on the western river remain fully consistent with the treaty obligation. He added that India's claim to hold the treaty in abeyance is equally without legal basis. The Indus Water Treaty remains in force and Pakistan will continue to protect its rights through lawful, diplomatic and treaty-based mechanisms and processes.

He made it clear that Pakistan will not compromise on a single drop of water that is due for it under the treaty.

Regarding Pakistan-Afghanistan relations, the FO Spokesperson said Afghan territory is being used to plan, foment, engineer and execute terrorist operations in Pakistan. He said the Afghan Taliban regime is either an accomplice to terrorist attacks inside Pakistan or is turning its eyes towards the other side to let these attacks happen. In view of this, Pakistan has taken certain actions since last October.

He said Islamabad has a single one-point demand that Afghan territory should not be used for terrorist incidents. He said the relations with Afghanistan will continue to remain at a standstill unless Pakistan receives written assurances from the Afghan Taliban regime that their territory will not be used against it.

Tahir Andrabi said that followed the news of Israeli assaults against the Global Sumud Flotilla, a peaceful civilian humanitarian initiative aimed at highlighting the humanitarian suffering of the Palestinian people. Pakistan issued statements on this matter in both its national capacity and as part of the Group of 8 countries. We are gratified that all detainees, including Saad Edhi, have safely arrived in Istanbul.

He said that this week, Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister also received a delegation of senior Bangladeshi civil servants under the Pakistan-Bangladesh Knowledge Corridor initiative.

He said that the delegation is visiting Pakistan for a three-week program at the Civil Services Academy in Lahore, marking an important milestone in bilateral exchanges after 53 years.