Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi on Friday declared that Pakistan “ will not tolerate terrorism emanating from Afghan soil,” identifying TTP, BLA and other militant outfits as “enemies of Pakistan” and warned that any actor facilitating them “cannot be considered a friend of Pakistan and its people.” The Foreign Office spokesperson delivered a wide-ranging weekly media briefing, dominated by a strong message on Pakistan’s counter-terrorism priorities.
Ambassador Andrabi said Pakistan has witnessed a “sharp surge in terrorist attacks” originating from Afghanistan since 2021. While Pakistan continued to extend humanitarian and trade facilitation to Kabul, the Afghan interim authorities, he stressed, have failed to curb specific groups targeting Pakistan.
He described attempts by the Taliban regime to portray terrorists as refugees as “completely unacceptable.” Pakistan, he said, is prepared to receive only identified Pakistani nationals residing in Afghanistan, and only when they are formally handed over at official border crossings. “No one can be pushed across with weapons,” he added.
Rejecting efforts by some within Taliban administration to evoke ethnic sentiment, he said: “There is absolute clarity in Pakistan on the need to eliminate terrorism and safeguard citizens. Narratives built on Pashtun nationalism or claims of divisions within Pakistan’s policy will not deter our resolve.”
Providing details of the 7 November Istanbul meeting, the third round of talks facilitated by Türkiye and Qatar, Tahir Hussain Andrabi said Pakistan values both countries’ mediation. However, he underscored that progress hinges on Kabul addressing Pakistan’s foremost concern: the presence of TTP, BLA and other groups on Afghan soil.
Turning to Pakistan’s diplomatic engagements, Andrabi confirmed that King Abdullah-II ibn Al Hussein of Jordan will undertake a state visit to Pakistan on November 15–16. The visit, he said, reflects the deep-rooted fraternal ties between the two countries. The King will hold meetings with the President and the Prime Minister, with the agenda expected to cover enhanced cooperation in defence, trade, regional peace and counter-terrorism.
He recapped Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif’s recent visit to Baku on the invitation of President Ilham Aliyev to mark fifth anniversary of Azerbaijan’s Victory Day.
He said the two leaders reviewed the full spectrum of longstanding relations and agreed to strengthen cooperation in politics, energy, connectivity, trade and defence. The Prime Minister congratulated Azerbaijan on its historic peace accord with Armenia and reaffirmed Pakistan’s support on the Karabakh issue. A Pakistan Army contingent also took part in Baku’s grand Victory Day parade. On the sidelines, the Prime Minister met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Andrabi said Pakistan successfully hosted the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference on 11 November, which was attended by the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister, and delegations from Belarus, the UAE,
He highlighted that the Deputy Prime Minister chaired the second day’s opening session and held bilateral meetings with several visiting parliamentary leaders. Discussions focused on enhancing parliamentary cooperation, regional connectivity and the shared responsibility of legislators in promoting peace.
Ambassador Andrabi also drew attention to the 6th Margalla Dialogue hosted by the Islamabad Policy Research Institute, which deliberated on “The Future of the Global Order: Cooperation or Confrontation.”
He said the Deputy Prime Minister, in his address, cautioned that multilateralism is eroding due to unilateralism, bloc politics and escalating trade wars. He emphasised the urgent need to strengthen multilateral institutions and reinforce commitments to international law, global peace and sustainable development.
The spokesperson said Pakistan has taken note of the Court of Arbitration’s clarifications on aspects of its August 2025 award under the Indus Waters Treaty. Despite India suspending its participation, the neutral expert proceedings, initiated at India’s request, will continue, and Pakistan “will fully participate in good faith.”
Responding to remarks by India’s Ministry of External Affairs, Andrabi criticised attempts to link U.S. President Donald Trump’s comments on nuclear testing with Pakistan’s nuclear record. He termed India’s assertions as distortions and misrepresentations, reiterating that Pakistan last conducted nuclear tests in 1998 and has consistently backed UN resolutions calling for a global ban on nuclear testing.
He contrasted Pakistan’s safe and robust nuclear command-and-control system with India’s alarming record of nuclear material theft and illicit trafficking in recent years.
Andrabi concluded by expressing Pakistan’s “deepest sorrow and heartfelt condolences” to the government and people of Turkiye over the tragic crash of a C-130 aircraft near the Georgia–Azerbaijan border. He thanked the media for their presence and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to transparent communication on diplomatic engagements, regional security and counterterrorism policy.
