Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson, Tahir Hussain Andrabi, announced on Thursday that Islamabad remains committed to encouraging the United States and Iran to halt hostilities and restart negotiations under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which Pakistan helped mediate last month.
Despite challenges in implementing the MoU, Andrabi emphasized that Pakistan will persist in urging all parties to cease violence and engage in technical-level discussions as outlined in the agreement. He expressed serious concern over the escalating tensions between Iran and the US, highlighting that Pakistan is closely monitoring the regional developments and firmly believes that dialogue is the most effective way to resolve disputes.
Addressing misconceptions that Pakistan has withdrawn from peace efforts, the spokesperson reaffirmed Islamabad’s ongoing mediation role. He expressed hope for a swift normalization of the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, underlining the critical importance of maintaining the safety, security, and freedom of maritime navigation in this strategic corridor.
The Islamabad MoU was signed on June 17, largely facilitated by Pakistan, aiming to ease the conflict. However, recent US strikes on Iran have provoked retaliatory attacks on American interests in the Gulf, intensifying the confrontation over the vital Hormuz shipping route. This escalation has pushed global oil prices higher, raising fears of inflation spikes even in countries distant from the conflict zone.
Andrabi acknowledged the urgent need to mitigate the impact of the ongoing conflict on global energy supplies, as well as on trade and food security. He stressed that the continuation of hostilities serves no one’s interests and expressed hope that all parties will remain dedicated to peacefully resolving their differences.
Separately, Andrabi highlighted Pakistan’s continued support for international humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan. He noted that Pakistan is facilitating the delivery of aid by the United Nations and partner organizations, with approximately 45 trucks carrying humanitarian supplies already dispatched through Pakistani territory. He reiterated Islamabad’s consistent stance on maintaining a humanitarian corridor for Afghanistan.
However, Andrabi pointed out that bilateral relations with Afghanistan have yet to improve significantly. He stated that meaningful progress depends on the Afghan government ceasing its support for terrorism against Pakistan and providing guarantees that its soil will not be used for hostile activities targeting Pakistan. Until these concerns are addressed, normalizing relations remains unlikely.
Condemning recent terrorist attacks in Balochistan and the killing of civilians, Andrabi accused India of openly supporting terrorism in the province. He criticized New Delhi’s actions and statements as evidence of a pattern backing such activities. The spokesperson also condemned celebratory reactions from Indian media following attacks on Pakistani citizens, describing these responses as reflecting India’s double standards.
Andrabi concluded by strongly denouncing terrorism in all forms, emphasizing that violence against civilians is never justifiable under any circumstances.
