Pakistan ready for talks with Kabul if it acts against terrorists: FO

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has said it is ready to engage in dialogue with Afghanistan if Kabul acknowledges terrorist activities originating from its territory and agrees to a verifiable mechanism to stop them.

“Pakistan is not averse to negotiations with Afghanistan,” Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan said during his weekly press briefing, adding that Islamabad had been engaged in talks with Kabul since 2021.

He said Pakistan believed disputes could be resolved through dialogue but stressed that any engagement must produce concrete results, particularly in addressing cross-border terrorism.

The spokesperson said Afghanistan would have to provide assurances that a verifiable mechanism would be established to control and eliminate terrorist activities emanating from its territory.

Pakistan remained prepared for diplomacy and negotiations, he added, while reiterating that dialogue without progress on its security concerns would serve little purpose.

‘Makkah pact not directed against any third country’

Pakistan has reiterated that the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement with Saudi Arabia and Turkiye is intended to strengthen collective defence, deterrence and regional security, and is not directed against any third country.

Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia had completed the ratification process for the agreement, while Islamabad supported the draft submitted to the Turkish parliament for approval.

He said the agreement’s provisions were intended to facilitate joint defence and did not target any particular country.

Under the pact, the three countries would consult each other in the event of external aggression and decide on an appropriate response, the spokesperson said.

He added that the draft submitted to the Turkish parliament did not contain any secret provisions beyond those included in the agreement.

The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement was signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye in August 2026 to strengthen collective deterrence and defence cooperation.

Pakistan, EU agree to deepen counterterrorism cooperation

He said that Pakistan and the European Union have agreed to strengthen cooperation against terrorism, including through multilateral forums such as the United Nations, following their 10th bilateral counterterrorism dialogue in Islamabad.

Foreign Office spokesperson said the two sides condemned terrorism in all its forms and discussed the security implications of the situation in Afghanistan.

The EU condemned recent terrorist attacks in Pakistan, expressed solidarity with affected civilians and acknowledged Islamabad’s counterterrorism efforts, he said.

The discussions covered the use of cyberspace, information and energy resources by terrorist groups, as well as ways to counter violent extremism, terrorist financing and radicalisation.

The Pakistani delegation was led by Director General for Counterterrorism Dr Fareha Bugti, while the EU delegation was headed by European External Action Service Special Envoy for Counterterrorism Anna Strzaska.

The two sides agreed to hold the next round of talks in Brussels next year.

Pakistan condemns Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia

The FO sdpokesperson said that Pakistan has strongly condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and expressed serious concern over the ongoing conflict in Yemen and its regional implications, Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan said on Friday.

The spokesperson said Pakistan had consistently supported dialogue and diplomatic efforts to achieve lasting peace.

He reiterated Islamabad’s support for peaceful efforts to resolve regional disputes and called attention to the wider consequences of the conflict.

Pakistan rejects Indian allegations, warns against false-flag operation

Pakistan has strongly rejected what it described as baseless allegations by India’s Ministry of External Affairs, Sajjad Khan said.

The spokesperson said an Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) resolution had categorically rejected India’s move to change the status of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), reiterating that the Kashmir dispute remained unresolved internationally.

Khan also condemned the Indian government’s reported move to vacate the historic Race Course Mosque, saying it reflected growing religious intolerance and Islamophobia in India.

He urged the international community to take notice of the situation.

The spokesperson further said Pakistan was prepared to respond to any alleged Indian false-flag operation, describing such operations as a pattern associated with India. The allegation was presented as Pakistan’s position and was not independently established in the briefing.

He said that Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu’s visit produced agreements and memorandums of understanding and opened opportunities for trade and investment. The visit coincided with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

The spokesperson said that President Asif Ali Zardari is visiting Germany from October 22 to 24, with meetings planned with German leadership and business representatives to discuss bilateral relations, particularly trade and economic cooperation.

Talking about the Pakistan-Qatar-Turkiye-Indonesia memorandum, the spokesperson said that the four countries signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at promoting mutual defence cooperation.

He said that Pakistan and Latvia held a round of bilateral political consultations.