Pakistan calls for de-escalation in Middle East

Pakistan has expressed deep concern over the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East and urged all parties involved to exercise restraint and pursue diplomatic solutions to regional disputes.

Speaking at the weekly Foreign Office briefing in Islamabad on Thursday, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Pakistan remained committed to dialogue and diplomacy despite the renewed hostilities in the region.

According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, he acknowledged that the current situation in the Middle East had made mediation efforts increasingly difficult but stressed that Pakistan remained hopeful that diplomatic engagement could help reduce tensions.

--Mohsin Naqvi's Iran visit--

“Pakistan continues to support peace and diplomacy, and our efforts in this regard remain ongoing,” Andrabi said. He noted that Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had recently visited Tehran, where he delivered a message and letter from Pakistan’s leadership to Iranian authorities.

The spokesperson described the visit as part of Pakistan’s continuing efforts to promote regional peace but said the contents of the communication could not be made public, as it was a state-to-state message.

Referring to regional diplomatic developments, Andrabi said a ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel had been achieved with United States support. He also noted that Lebanese Armed Forces Commander General Rodolphe Haykal recently visited Pakistan and held meetings with Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir.

--Indian statement on Kashmir, IWT rejected--

Addressing questions on Kashmir, the spokesperson rejected recent remarks made by India’s Ministry of External Affairs regarding Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

He reiterated Pakistan’s longstanding position that Jammu and Kashmir remains an internationally recognised disputed territory. He said Pakistan would continue to extend diplomatic, political and moral support to the Kashmiri people.

Commenting on a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) regarding India's nuclear weapons deployment, Andrabi said Pakistan might differ with aspects of the institute’s methodology but not necessarily with its observations.

He stressed that Pakistan did not believe in an arms race but was closely monitoring developments and urged the international community to pay attention to India’s nuclear posture.

The spokesperson also responded to recent remarks by India’s water resources minister, stating that water is a vital necessity for millions of people and that any attempt to restrict Pakistan’s water resources could have serious implications for regional peace and security. He reiterated Pakistan’s position that any such action would be viewed as a hostile act.

--Somali pirates and Pakistanis abduction--

On the issue of Pakistani nationals held by Somali pirates, Andrabi confirmed that several Pakistani citizens aboard a cargo vessel had been held captive for nearly 50 days. He said Pakistan remained in close contact with Somalia’s leadership to secure their safe release.

According to the spokesperson, Somalia’s foreign minister has assured Islamabad that efforts are under way to recover the hostages safely. He added that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar had spoken directly with his Somali counterpart, while Pakistan’s foreign secretary had also met the Somali ambassador in Islamabad to discuss the matter.

Andrabi said available information suggested that the pirates belonged to a specific clan and that the vessel owners were linked to the same tribal network.

--Kabul diplomacy and Azm-e-Istehkam Operation--

Responding to a question regarding reports that a Pakistani diplomat in Kabul had been summoned by Afghan authorities, the spokesperson said he had no confirmed information but acknowledged that such a development may have occurred.

He added that Pakistan’s actions against terrorist targets linked to Fitna al-Khawarij were part of the broader “Azm-e-Istehkam” strategy against terrorism.

--Pakistanis repatriation from UAE--

The spokesperson also addressed reports concerning the repatriation of Pakistani nationals from the United Arab Emirates.

He said between 3,000 and 4,000 Pakistanis had recently been sent back and dismissed claims suggesting significantly higher numbers.

He assured that Pakistani diplomatic missions remained committed to protecting the assets and interests of citizens abroad and encouraged affected individuals to contact the Foreign Office if assistance were required.

--Connections with Istanbul and Qatar--

Answering additional questions, Andrabi said he had no information regarding any Track-One diplomatic meeting in Istanbul or a reported Qatari delegation visit.

He did, however, confirm that Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar held a telephone conversation with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Wednesday night.

The spokesperson further noted that Australia and several European countries had designated the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) as a terrorist organisation.

He also said Pakistan had taken note of reports regarding the law and order situation in South Africa and acknowledged that South African authorities were taking steps to address the issue.

LIVE: Spokesperson's Weekly Press Briefing 11-06-2026 at Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Islamabad https://t.co/K7TYojAFia

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