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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has advised its citizens to avoid all unnecessary travel to Iran until the security situation improves, according to a travel advisory issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday. The advisory stated that the decision was made in light of the prevailing security conditions, urging Pakistani nationals to prioritize their safety and security. Pakistanis currently residing in Iran have been asked to exercise extreme caution, remain vigilant and limit non-essential movement. The advisory also urged them to stay in regular contact with Pakistani diplomatic missions in the country.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 827px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2009859476799860748&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Flogin&sessionId=b8b0cc8bf1f1a9c6f67f50a90d2278f34b08635e&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>The Foreign Office shared the contact details of the Embassy of Pakistan in Tehran and its consular offices in Zahidan and Mashhad to facilitate its citizens in case of emergencies.&nbsp;The advisory said Pakistani missions in Iran remain available to provide assistance and support to nationals as required. Citizens were advised to closely follow official updates and comply with local laws and security guidelines while in Iran. Protests in IranThe advisory comes after reports of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/new-protests-erupt-in-iran-despite-internet-shutdown" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">countrywide protests in the neighboring country</a>, with authorities blocking the internet as part of a crackdown that has left dozens dead. On Friday, US President Donald Trump said it looked like Iran&#39;s leaders were &ldquo;in big trouble&rdquo; and repeated an earlier threat of military strikes if peaceful protesters are killed.<br style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; scroll-behavior: auto !important; font-family: Roboto, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, sans-serif;">&ldquo;It looks to me that the people are taking over certain cities that nobody thought were really possible just a few weeks ago,&rdquo; Trump said.

Culture

Urges Pakistani nationals to prioritize their safety and security.

Pakistan advises citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Iran

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has not decided on participating in the International Stabilization Force (ISF) in relation to the Gaza peace plan, according to the Foreign Office spokesperson.&nbsp; During a press briefing on Thursday, Pakistan&rsquo;s Foreign Office spokesperson, Tahir Andrabi, addressed ongoing discussions about the country&#39;s potential involvement in the ISF and recent diplomatic developments.&nbsp;On the question about the status of Pakistan&#39;s participation in the ISF vis-&agrave;-vis the Gaza peace plan, the FO spokesperson responded: &ldquo;I mentioned previously as well. We have not yet decided to participate in ISF. We will inform you about any development that takes place in this regard.&rdquo;&nbsp;&lsquo;Not to my knowledge&rsquo;&nbsp;In response to another question, the spokesperson said: &ldquo;The discussion on International Security Force is ongoing in certain capitals. I am not aware of any specific requests made to Pakistan on sending troops. As stated, we have not taken any decision on this subject, as yet.&rdquo; To another query regarding whether Pakistan has consulted any regional countries on ISF, like Iran and Saudi Arabia, the spokesperson said: &ldquo;Not to my knowledge.&rdquo; Andrabi further said: &ldquo;Broadly under the subject of Gaza and Palestine, ISF may have come under discussion during our various interactions. But if you ask whether this was a specific agenda item for a meeting or a telephone call, I do not think so.&rdquo;&nbsp; On Bondi Beach attackOn the Bondi Beach attack, Andrabi said that the vilification of Pakistan was extremely regrettable.&nbsp; He said Pakistan strongly condemns this attack. &ldquo;Pakistan stands in solidarity with the people and government of Australia,&rdquo; Andrabi said.&nbsp; &ldquo;Pakistan unequivocally condemns terrorism in all forms and manifestations.&rdquo; About disinformation on the Bondi Beach attack, Andrabi said, &ldquo;Yes, the initial reports on the perpetrator&rsquo;s false identity were published by an Israeli newspaper.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;There were certain handlers on X and other social media from Afghanistan that were, indeed, involved.&rdquo; He added, &ldquo;They do not have any credibility. It depicts that they want to stereotype Pakistan into a certain bracket through such false news.&rdquo;&nbsp; Indian media &lsquo;egg-faced&rsquo;&nbsp;About the blame game on Pakistan vis-&agrave;-vis the attack by the Indian media, he said this is not the first time that the Indian media has been egg-faced on being proved wrong.&nbsp; When asked about taking this matter to an international forum, he said that there are specific fora for reporting such developments.&nbsp; The ultimate price that the Indian media pays for such disinformation is the loss of its own credibility, which has been considerable in the past six months, particularly during Operation Bunyanul Marsoos, and now after this Bondi Beach terrorist incident.&nbsp; On Indus Waters TreatyThe Foreign Office spokesperson, on the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), said: &ldquo;We have all options. Pakistan is fully committed to the various processes of dispute resolution under the IWT.&rdquo; &ldquo;On the interpretation and downstream working of the treaty, including Article 9, we have all options available that can be exercised,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp; Field marshal&rsquo;s &#39;visit&#39; contradicted&nbsp;On the reported visit of the Chief of Army Staff/Chief of Defense Forces to the US, as reported by Reuters, Andrabi said: &ldquo;I can contradict the Reuters story in its essence that it seemed to suggest that the visit has been planned and there is a finality about it. So, I am contradicting that.&rdquo;&nbsp; UN report on Afghanistan&nbsp;Regarding the UN report on Afghanistan, Andrabi said, &ldquo;The Security Council report also elaborates on the configuration of various terrorist elements inside Afghanistan, particularly with reference to the TTP/Fitnah Al Khawarij.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;This reaffirms Pakistan&#39;s assertion on major impediments to developing bilateral relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan with respect to the lasting ceasefire, the closure of border gates, and the closure of trade.&rdquo;&nbsp; &quot;The findings of the report are in sync with Pakistan&#39;s official position, and this is heard loud and clear across international capitals,&quot; he said. Ceasefire with Afghanistan&nbsp;Regarding the ceasefire with Afghanistan, Andrabi said: &ldquo;Pakistan, in good faith, had agreed to the ceasefire. This move by Pakistan has not been reciprocated with the same positivity from the Afghan Taliban regime.&rdquo;&nbsp; Aid to Afghanistan&nbsp;On the issue of aid to Afghanistan, Andrabi said: &ldquo;From our side, there is no hindrance in the dispatch of humanitarian aid. I recall that medicines were included in the first and second batches of the aid convoy that was allowed to pass. Various UN agencies were also involved in the dispatch of that aid.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;If there are any impediments to the flow of humanitarian assistance from the Afghan side, I am not aware of them. There was a statement from the Afghan Taliban regime that they are not willing to receive anything,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp; &#39;Good neighborly relations&#39;On official contact with Afghanistan, Andrabi said: &ldquo;The diplomatic channels exist. I am not aware of any backchannel diplomacy. During the regional talks on Afghanistan hosted by Iran last week, the Afghan Taliban regime did not send a representative. Had they sent a representative to the meeting, some exchange might have taken place.&rdquo;&nbsp; He said: &ldquo;We stand by our foreign policy of good neighborly relations. Pakistan has not given up this objective.&rdquo;&nbsp; On Indian cabinet&rsquo;s decisionOn a question about the Indian Cabinet approving the opening up of nuclear insurance sectors for private investment, the spokesperson said: &ldquo;We monitor these developments very carefully, given India&#39;s troubling history of nuclear security lapses, including multiple incidents of radioactive material theft and unlawful sale of radioactive material reported since the 1990s.&rdquo;&nbsp; Andrabi added: &ldquo;The involvement of the private sector in handling sensitive nuclear material and knowledge could be a matter of concern; this may pose a challenge to the global efforts for countering access of private individuals to sensitive nuclear materials.&rdquo;&nbsp; Ban on airspace&nbsp;On a question about Pakistan extending its ban on the use of airspace by India till January 23, 2026, the spokesperson said: &ldquo;The status of Pakistan&rsquo;s airspace for India stays the same. It is reflective of the relations between the two countries, the threats that are brandished against Pakistan, including the statements being made by the senior Indian leadership about another wave of aggression against Pakistan.&rdquo;&nbsp; On SAARC&nbsp;On a question concerning the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), the spokesperson said: &ldquo;I would reiterate the response I gave to a similar query on SAARC last week, i.e., the blockade of SAARC is regrettable, and we would want it to be revived.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;We welcome the statement from Dhaka on ways of alternate regional cooperation mechanisms.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Pakistan remains committed to multilateralism,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp;

Foreign Affairs

Foreign Office spokesperson says, ‘We have not taken a decision to participate in ISF as yet. We will inform you about any development that takes place in this regard.’

Pakistan yet to decide on joining international Gaza force: Foreign Office

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Sunday strongly condemned the recent attacks by Israeli forces across Gaza, which have reportedly claimed the lives of several Palestinian civilians, including women and children, and left many others injured.&nbsp;The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that these attacks represent a blatant violation of international law, relevant UN resolutions, and the recently signed Sharm el-Sheikh peace agreement. The statement added that such actions undermine global efforts to achieve lasting peace and stability in the region.&nbsp;Pakistan reiterated its call on the international community to take immediate steps to end Israeli impunity, stop ceasefire violations, and ensure adherence to international human rights and humanitarian law.&nbsp;The government reaffirmed its long-standing support for the creation of an independent, sovereign, and contiguous State of Palestine based on pre-June 1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.&nbsp;The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued the statement from Islamabad on November 23, 2025.

FO says these attacks represent a blatant violation of international law, relevant UN resolutions, and the recently signed Sharm el-Sheikh peace agreement.

Pakistan strongly condemns Israeli attacks in Gaza

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday strongly condemned the renewed attacks by Israeli occupying forces in Gaza, terming them a &quot;flagrant violation of international law and a breach of the recently concluded peace agreement&quot;.&nbsp;In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan said the Israeli strikes had reportedly caused civilian casualties and warned that such aggressive actions threatened to undermine international efforts aimed at ensuring durable peace and stability in the region. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-3" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-3&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1983459459847655559&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=e5a7764e4b5f3f5afda3241472f87810c34e2d03&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 923px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;</iframe></div> &ldquo;These actions constitute a clear and flagrant violation of international law, as well as a breach of the recently concluded peace agreement,&rdquo; the statement read. &ldquo;Such aggressive measures by the Israeli occupation forces threaten to undermine international efforts aimed at establishing durable peace and stability in the region.&rdquo;</div>&nbsp;Pakistan urged the international community to take immediate steps to halt the ceasefire violations by Israeli forces.&nbsp;The statement reaffirmed Islamabad&rsquo;s consistent and principled support for the Palestinian cause and called for the establishment of an independent, sovereign, and viable State of Palestine based on the pre-June 1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.&nbsp;Pakistan reiterated that peace in the Middle East would remain elusive until a just and lasting solution to the Palestinian issue is achieved in accordance with international law and relevant United Nations resolutions.

Says these actions constitute a clear and flagrant violation of international law, as well as a breach of the recently concluded peace agreement.

Pakistan condemns Israel’s violations of Gaza peace agreement

Mariam Ellahi

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday voiced strong concerns over continued border violations from Afghanistan and dismissed allegations made by the Taliban government, underscoring Islamabad&rsquo;s right to self-defense amid escalating tensions along the shared frontier. Speaking at the weekly media briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said Pakistan was &ldquo;deeply concerned&rdquo; about what he described as &ldquo;unwarranted aggression&rdquo; by militant groups affiliated with &ldquo;Fitna al-Khawarij,&rdquo; Islamabad&rsquo;s term for the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and &ldquo;Fitna al-Hindustan,&rdquo; referring to what Pakistan says are Indian-sponsored proxies operating in southwestern Balochistan. &ldquo;Pakistan exercised its legitimate right to self-defense after repeated cross-border attacks,&rdquo; Khan said. &ldquo;Our retaliatory actions were carefully targeted and not directed against Afghan civilians.&rdquo; Rebuttal to Taliban and Indian remarksKhan rejected recent comments by Afghan interim Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, who during a visit to India termed terrorism &ldquo;an internal issue of Pakistan.&rdquo; &ldquo;Islamabad completely rejects such assertions,&rdquo; the spokesperson said, adding that the Taliban administration was attempting to &ldquo;divert attention from the presence of terrorist elements inside Afghanistan.&rdquo; Khan pointed to multiple United Nations Monitoring Team reports documenting the continued presence of TTP and other militant groups within Afghan territory. He also condemned the Afghanistan&ndash;India joint statement, which described Indian-administered Kashmir as part of India, calling it &ldquo;a blatant denial of the Kashmiri people&rsquo;s right to self-determination&rdquo; and a violation of UN Security Council resolutions. &ldquo;Pakistan has conveyed its objections to the Afghan envoy in Islamabad,&rdquo; Khan said. &ldquo;We remain sensitive to the sacrifices and sentiments of the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir in their struggle for self-determination.&rdquo; Ceasefire and diplomatic engagementConfirming a temporary truce, Khan said both countries had agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire at Kabul&rsquo;s request to de-escalate hostilities and pursue dialogue. &ldquo;During this time, both sides are making sincere efforts to find a constructive and sustainable resolution to these complex but solvable issues,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Pakistan believes in dialogue and remains committed to peace.&rdquo; Afghanistan&rsquo;s interim spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid told Ariana News that the ceasefire &ldquo;has been extended until the conclusion of planned talks,&rdquo; according to Reuters. Khan stressed that Islamabad continues to maintain diplomatic channels with Kabul, adding: &ldquo;There is no downgrade in relations. But Pakistan will continue to safeguard its sovereignty, security, and people at all costs.&rdquo; Refugees and governance in AfghanistanThe spokesperson reiterated that Pakistan hosts more than four million Afghan nationals and will regulate their presence &ldquo;in accordance with international norms and domestic laws.&rdquo; He urged the Taliban to act &ldquo;responsibly&rdquo; and work toward &ldquo;a peaceful, stable, friendly, and inclusive Afghanistan.&rdquo; &ldquo;We hope one day the Afghan people will be emancipated and governed by a genuine representative government,&rdquo; Khan said. militant presence and regional SecurityKhan accused India of &ldquo;training, financing, and sheltering&rdquo; militant outfits such as the TTP and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), adding that &ldquo;India&rsquo;s negative role in Afghanistan is well-documented.&rdquo; He also condemned reports of mutilation of Pakistani soldiers&rsquo; bodies, calling the act &ldquo;unforgivable and deeply offensive.&rdquo; &ldquo;This kind of savagery cannot be condoned,&rdquo; Khan warned. &ldquo;Pakistan reserves the right to respond at a time and place of its choosing.&rdquo; Broader foreign policy and human rightsKhan reaffirmed that Pakistan&ndash;China relations remain the &ldquo;cornerstone&rdquo; of Islamabad&rsquo;s diplomacy, with both countries working to advance an upgraded phase of the China&ndash;Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). He further highlighted Pakistan&rsquo;s re-election to the UN Human Rights Council, describing it as &ldquo;a reaffirmation of the international community&rsquo;s confidence in Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to human rights and multilateralism.&rdquo;

Islamabad and Kabul have agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire following recent cross-border clashes, officials confirmed Wednesday, with both sides saying the truce aims to ease tensions and pave the way for constructive dialogue toward a lasting resolution.


Pakistan condemns Afghan border violations, rejects Taliban allegations of aggression

<ul id="isPasted"><li>Pakistan calls on international community to &ldquo;hold Israel accountable&rdquo;</li><li>17 Palestinians were killed overnight in fresh wave of Israeli strikes &nbsp;</li></ul>&nbsp;ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has &ldquo;strongly&rdquo; condemned Israel&rsquo;s &ldquo;intention to forcibly displace Palestinians&rdquo;, calling the move a violation of international law and a threat to peace in the region.In a statement issued on Saturday, the country&rsquo;s Foreign Office (FO) stated that Israel was intentionally trying to sabotage peace efforts in the region. &ldquo;It is a deliberate attempt to sabotage efforts for achieving peace and stability in the region,&rdquo; the Foreign Office said.&nbsp;The FO said Israel was resorting to &ldquo;forced displacement&rdquo; and expanding &ldquo;illegal settlements&rdquo; in complete &ldquo;disregard for international human rights and humanitarian law&rdquo;.&nbsp;&nbsp;It called on the &ldquo;international community to play its role in addressing the humanitarian plight of the civilians and to hold Israel accountable&rdquo;.&nbsp;The statement reiterated &ldquo;unwavering support for the Palestinian people in their just struggle for self-determination and for a sovereign, independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif [Jerusalem] as its capital&rdquo;.&nbsp;&nbsp;Israel launches new Gaza assault&nbsp;&nbsp;Since September 5, Israel has intensified its offensive in Gaza, ordering Palestinians to move to a designated &ldquo;safe zone&rdquo;, al-Mawasi. The Guardian&nbsp;reported that Israeli military repeatedly struck the area, with at least 9 people, including 5 children, killed while queuing for water in the so-called safe zone.&nbsp;According to Reuters, Israel also demolished two high-rise buildings, including the 15-storey Soussi Tower near a UN refugee agency. The occupying forces claimed the buildings housed Hamas infrastructure but provided no evidence.&nbsp;Overnight strikes late on Saturday killed at least 17 Palestinians, including 6 at the al-Farabi School shelter. Several Palestinians were also killed in attacks on tents and homes in Sheikh Radwan and Remal neighborhoods.&nbsp;With Israel pushing further into Gaza&rsquo;s urban centre, around one million residents are being displaced to the south, where &lsquo;safe zones&rsquo; have also been attacked, as per AFP.&nbsp;&nbsp;Death and destruction in Gaza&nbsp;&nbsp;The nearly two-year siege of Gaza has killed over 64,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza&rsquo;s health ministry. More than 18,000 children alone have been killed by Israel since October 2023. The occupying power&rsquo;s war crimes have been termed as &ldquo;genocide&rdquo; by several international human rights organizations, including Amnesty International.&nbsp;Gaza&rsquo;s population of nearly 2.1 million is enduring a severe humanitarian crisis marked by widespread starvation. Gaza&rsquo;s health ministry reported that 376 people have died from starvation, including 134 children.&nbsp;Israel has completely blockaded the enclave, with aid agencies unable to deliver food in the occupied region. The situation has been described by international aid organizations as a &ldquo;man-made famine&rdquo;. The United Nations warned of &ldquo;catastrophic&rdquo; conditions if the blockade wasn&rsquo;t lifted.&nbsp;

Middle East

Pakistan condemned Israel’s forced displacement of Palestinians, calling for international accountability as Israel launches another assault on Gaza.

Pakistan condemns Israel’s forced displacement of Palestinians in latest assault 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is continuing with its policy to deport undocumented Afghan refugees while Afghanistan reels from a deadly earthquake that killed 2,200 people. Thousands of Afghans have returned to Afghanistan in recent days after the disaster, while the United Nations urged Pakistan to halt deportation given the humanitarian emergency. Pakistan maintained its stance that it will return any Afghan without valid documentation. &ldquo;We decide who stays in our country&rdquo;, said the Foreign Office spokesperson Ambassador Shafqat Ali Khan. &ldquo;Any people without documentation should leave. This is what Pakistan is doing, like other countries including in Europe&rdquo;.&nbsp; Since late 2023, Pakistan implemented a phase repatriation plan for Afghan nationals without legal status. Over 1.2 million Afghan have returned to their homeland under this policy, including more than 443,000 earlier this year.&nbsp; The latest phase focuses on deporting Afghan refugees holding UN-issued Proof of Registration (PoR) cards, who were given a deadline of September 1 to leave or face deportation. Pakistan has linked the policy to increased cross-border militant activity and says it is addressing security concerns while managing its own humanitarian crisis, including floods that have displaced millions. Devastation from Afghan earthquake&nbsp;A powerful 6 magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan on August 31, killing more than 2,200 people. It flattened villages and destroyed about 8,000 homes, mostly in Kunar province. Rescue efforts have been hindered by difficult terrain, landslides, and blocked roads. Several strong aftershocks caused further damage. The disaster has left tens of thousands homeless, with emergency shelters set up to provide basic aid. Heavy pre-quake rains worsened conditions by increasing the risk of landslides. The earthquake is among the deadliest in Afghanistan&rsquo;s recent history, striking a region with poor construction standards and regular seismic activity. Humanitarian response faces challenges due to limited funding and logistical difficulties. &nbsp; &nbsp;

Afghanistan

Pakistan decides who stays, undocumented Afghans must leave, says FO spokesperson.

Articles tagged with "Pakistan foreign office"