FO says Pakistan will adhere to ‘all applicable’ sanctions regimes on Iran

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan clarified on Thursday its position on US sanctions concerning Iran, saying it will adhere to all applicable sanctions regimes while continuing to facilitate communication between Washington and Tehran.

Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan said Pakistan would follow international and domestic laws on sanctions and remain committed to its role as a mediator between the United States and Iran.

The clarification comes after the Foreign Office said in a Sept. 17 briefing that it had taken note of new US measures concerning Iranian airlines, including Mahan Air, and was examining them with relevant stakeholders. It had also said the potential impact of the US measures on Pakistan-Iran trade was being evaluated in coordination with the Ministry of Commerce.

Khan said remarks previously attributed to the Foreign Office on the sanctions issue had been “out of context” and required clarification.

Pakistan reaffirms sanctions compliance

“Pakistan is a responsible member of the international community. It adheres to and shall continue to adhere to all applicable sanctions regimes in accordance with international as well as domestic laws,” Khan said during a weekly press briefing.

He said Pakistan reaffirmed its commitment to a rules-based international system rooted in multilateralism and international law, while maintaining “constant and constructive communication” with relevant stakeholders.

The spokesperson also stressed the importance Islamabad attaches to its relationship with Washington.

“Pakistan highly values its enduring and multi-faceted strategic partnership with the United States and remains fully committed to further strengthening its long-standing diplomatic, economic and security ties with Washington,” he said.

Khan added that Pakistan would continue to follow international practices and established frameworks.

Islamabad to continue Iran-US mediation

The spokesperson said Pakistan would continue facilitating communication between Iran and the US.

“Pakistan being a mediator in the communication between both Iran and [the] United States, it’s important we have and shall continue to urge both sides to exercise restraint, resolve outstanding issues through dialogue and diplomacy, and honour their respective commitments under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding,” Khan said.

Pakistan, he added, believes this is the “only viable pathway” to resolving the conflict peacefully and in the wider interest of global peace and security.

Pakistan rejects India’s IWT claims

The spokesperson also rejected India’s characterisation of the Court of Arbitration’s recent award concerning the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).

Khan said Pakistan rejected what he called India’s attempt to create confusion through its description of the award, arguing that the court had unanimously affirmed that the treaty remained in force and binding on both countries.

He said the court had also ruled that India must observe its treaty obligations concerning the design and operation of hydroelectric projects on the western rivers.

According to Khan, the court imposed measures prohibiting India from concreting the Ratle hydroelectric power project’s dam walls and power intake structures above specified levels until 90 days after the neutral expert’s final decision, which he said was expected around July 2027.

He also said the court had imposed a reporting measure on India related to the Ratle project.

Khan said the Court of Arbitration was constituted under IWT at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague. He said the court had previously determined its competence and constitution in a July 2023 award and rejected India’s objections.

He added that the court had reaffirmed its competence after India’s unilateral announcement regarding the status of the treaty, and that its Aug. 31, 2026, award had rejected India’s claims.

“India cannot escape from the binding awards of the Court of Arbitration through unilateral pronouncements or smokescreening its disregard for the binding treaty obligations,” Khan said.

Pakistan condemns Shahi Masjid action

The Foreign Office also condemned what it described as arbitrary action and attempts to demolish portions of the historic Shahi Masjid in Madhya Pradesh, as well as the use of force against Muslims protesting the attempted demolition.

Khan said Pakistan was particularly concerned by what it described as a wider pattern of actions affecting Muslim places of worship and religious and cultural heritage in India.

Pakistan called on the international community to take notice of what it described as the targeting of Muslims and their places of worship, and urged Indian authorities to protect minorities, their places of worship and fundamental religious freedoms.

Three Pakistanis among five crew members killed

Earlier in the briefing, Khan said Pakistan was deeply saddened by the deaths of five crew members during a recovery operation involving the hijacked vessel MT ALNAOUQ 25 off the coast of Somalia.

Three of those killed were Pakistani nationals — Rafiullah Khan, Syed Kashif Umar and Mahmood Ahmad Ansari.

Four crew members, including three Pakistanis, were injured and were receiving medical treatment, he said.

The surviving crew members were initially brought ashore at Bandar Beyla and were subsequently taken to Garowe, where the injured are being treated.

Khan said the Pakistani government remained in contact with Somali authorities and other stakeholders to facilitate medical care for the injured, repatriation of the mortal remains and the safe return of surviving Pakistani crew members.

He expressed condolences to the bereaved families on behalf of the government and people of Pakistan.

India-Pakistan contact at SCO meeting

Asked about a gesture by India’s national coordinator at an SCO meeting in Islamabad, Khan said senior Indian officials had not visited Pakistan for more than two years.

He described the visit as a welcome step and said the Indian official had expressed interest in visiting other Pakistani cities, including Sialkot, Faisalabad and Lahore.

Khan said the presence of the Indian national coordinator reflected common objectives among SCO member states concerning peace, development, connectivity, trade and transit.

He said Pakistan hoped other events in Islamabad over the next year would continue to attract member countries from across the region.

Dar’s diplomatic engagements

The briefing also covered Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s recent diplomatic engagements.

Khan said Dar met Turkish Ambassador Irfan Neziroglu on Sept. 18, with discussions focusing on regional developments and progress under bilateral institutional mechanisms.

Dar also met British High Commissioner Jane Marriott, with discussions covering Pakistan-UK relations, understandings reached during Dar’s recent visit to the UK and ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation on the transformation of coastal Sindh.

The spokesperson also highlighted the Sindh Coastal Resilience Project, describing it as a new area of cooperation with the International Fund for Agricultural Development.

He said the project would address climate vulnerabilities in Sindh’s coastal districts, with support from the Asian Development Bank and Green Climate Fund.

The project, he said, would require coordination among provincial departments and implementing partners, with an emphasis on transparency, accountability and ensuring that investments produce tangible benefits for local communities.