Pakistan has not lost hope, remains on path of peace and diplomacy amid Middle East escalation: FO spokesperson
Pakistan says it still backs peace and diplomacy despite Middle East tensions, while warning against wider hostilities and India-related escalations.
Intelligence analysis by GPT-5.4 Mini
At his weekly briefing, the Foreign Office said Pakistan is staying engaged diplomatically despite a shrinking space for mediation caused by fresh Middle East hostilities. The spokesperson also touched on India, water disputes, regional security, stranded Pakistani crew members, and safety concerns for nationals abroad.
Pakistan says it still wants to calm things down, even when the world around it feels shaky. It is talking to other countries, like neighbors trying to settle a noisy dispute before it gets worse.
Analysis
Diplomacy under pressure
Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Pakistan has not lost hope and will keep pushing peace and diplomacy even as the Middle East situation worsens. He said the government understands that hostilities have reduced the room for mediation, but it will continue working with optimism and restraint. Pakistan also urged the parties involved to stick to the ceasefire understanding and avoid widening the conflict.
Regional contacts and mediation efforts
Andrabi said Pakistan remains in contact with key partners and pointed to recent diplomatic activity, including the interior minister’s visit to Tehran and a late-night call between Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and his Turkish counterpart. According to the briefing, those conversations focused on the regional situation and the need for dialogue and restraint.
India, security, and water disputes
The spokesperson rejected India’s remarks on Azad Jammu and Kashmir and contrasted it with the situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, which he described as a disputed territory where people face rights abuses. He also responded to the SIPRI report by saying it confirms Pakistan’s concerns about India’s expanding strategic capabilities, while stressing that Pakistan is not seeking an arms race.
On water, he warned that any attempt to block Pakistan’s share would be a serious violation of international obligations and the Indus Waters Treaty, and said such an act would be treated as an act of war.
Other issues raised
The briefing also covered efforts to secure the release of Pakistani nationals held by Somali pirates, embassy support for Pakistanis facing xenophobic attacks in South Africa, and diplomatic follow-up on deportations from the UAE. Andrabi said recent strikes along the Pak-Afghan border were carried out on credible intelligence and were aimed at terrorist hideouts linked to the Bannu attack.
Key points
- Pakistan says it remains committed to peace and diplomacy despite worsening Middle East tensions.
- The Foreign Office urged parties to respect the ceasefire and keep space open for dialogue.
- The briefing also covered Pakistan’s contacts with Iran and Turkey over regional developments.
- Andrabi rejected India’s statements on AJK and warned against any move to block Pakistan’s water share.
- The government said it is also working on cases involving Somali pirate hostages, South Africa attacks, and UAE deportations.
If ceasefire understanding holds and talks continue, Pakistan could keep playing a small mediation role and help reduce regional pressure. Its ongoing contacts with Turkey, Iran, and other partners may also help protect Pakistani citizens and support cases like the stranded crew in Somalia.
If fighting widens in the Middle East, the diplomatic space Pakistan says it needs could shrink further, limiting what it can do as a mediator. Tensions with India over Kashmir, water, or strategic weapons could also keep bilateral relations fragile and raise regional risks.
