‘Warmongering must end’: Pakistan presses India toward dialogue and stability

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday welcomed emerging voices within India advocating the resumption of dialogue with Islamabad, urging New Delhi to move away from confrontation and adopt diplomacy as the path forward.

Speaking at the weekly Foreign Office media briefing, Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said recent statements by senior Indian figures, including the RSS secretary general, a former intelligence chief, and the Indian Army chief, reflected growing recognition inside India of the need for engagement with Pakistan.

“We hope that sanity will prevail in India,” Andrabi said. 

He added that the “warmongering and belligerence emanating [from India] for the past several months, and even years,” should now give way to dialogue and peaceful engagement.

Responding to questions regarding Indian media reports about possible back-channel contacts between Islamabad and New Delhi, the spokesperson neither confirmed nor denied the reports.

“If I was to comment, there would be no back channel,” he remarked.

The spokesperson said Pakistan was observing whether the public statements emerging from influential Indian quarters would eventually translate into an official policy shift by New Delhi.

Regional peace efforts

Briefing reporters on regional developments, Andrabi confirmed that Pakistan had received peace proposals from Iran aimed at ending the ongoing Middle East conflict and had conveyed them to the United States.

“The message was swiftly relayed to the other side,” he said, while declining to disclose details of the proposals or the channels used, maintaining that Pakistan does not comment on “specifics or channels of communication.”

The spokesperson said the ceasefire between Iran and the United States remained intact.

“The peace process is intact,” Andrabi stated. “We remain engaged. We remain hopeful.”

He said sustaining momentum in the process was “primarily the prerogative of the two principal interlocutors,” referring to Tehran and Washington.

According to the Foreign Office, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar remained actively engaged with regional and international counterparts regarding the ceasefire and broader regional stability efforts.

Andrabi said Dar held separate telephone conversations on May 8 with Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi. 

Discussions with Tehran focused mainly on the welfare and repatriation of Pakistani and Iranian seafarers aboard a vessel seized by US authorities near Singaporean waters.

On May 11, Dar spoke with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, who supported Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts and agreed on the importance of ensuring uninterrupted navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

The following day, Austrian Foreign Minister Beat Meiniere Zenger also expressed support for Pakistan’s constructive role in facilitating dialogue between Iran and the United States, the spokesperson added.

Misleading reports on China talks

The Foreign Office also rejected media reports claiming China had pressed Pakistan to intensify mediation efforts between Iran and the United States during a recent exchange between the foreign ministers of the two countries.

Andrabi said such reporting misrepresented the discussion “both in letter and spirit.”

According to the spokesperson, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi appreciated Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts and assured full support for Islamabad’s role in promoting regional peace and stability.

Nur Khan Airbase

Rejecting claims aired by CBS News regarding the alleged presence of Iranian military aircraft at Nur Khan Airbase, Andrabi described the report as “misleading, speculative, and disconnected from factual context.”

He clarified that the aircraft arrived during the ceasefire period solely for logistical and diplomatic purposes linked to the Islamabad Talks.

“The aircraft transported diplomatic personnel, security teams, and administrative staff, with no military connection,” he said.

Referring to remarks by US Senator Lindsey Graham questioning Pakistan’s mediator role, Andrabi noted that the comments had preceded Pakistan’s official clarification.

“Since then, we have not heard such voices,” he added.

Bannu terrorist attack

The spokesperson confirmed that Pakistan had summoned Afghanistan’s Chargé d’Affaires in Islamabad following the May 9 terrorist attack on the Fateh Khel police post in Bannu, in which more than 15 police personnel embraced martyrdom while several others sustained injuries.

According to Andrabi, preliminary investigations supported by technical intelligence traced the attack to militants operating from Afghan soil.

“In the formal démarche, Pakistan demanded immediate, concrete, and verifiable action against perpetrators, including those affiliated with Fitna al-Hind, [Fitna-al] Khawarij and ISKP,” he said.

Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir

Responding to questions on recent developments in Jammu and Kashmir, Andrabi said the issue had both a "human rights dimension" and a "peace and security dimension."

Referring to incidents in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, he cited imprisonment, house demolitions, detention without trial, and torture, saying such actions had continued and remained under the scrutiny of international human rights organisations and UN mechanisms.

On the Line of Control, Andrabi said Pakistani troops remained vigilant against any "misadventure," ceasefire violation, or firing incident, adding that Pakistan continued to monitor all aspects of the Jammu and Kashmir situation closely.

Somali pirates

On the issue of Pakistani nationals being held by Somali pirates, Andrabi said the captives remained in pirate custody off the Somali coast.

He informed reporters that a two-member team from Pakistan’s embassy in Djibouti traveled to Mogadishu over the weekend and met Somali foreign affairs, defense, and maritime officials.

The spokesperson said the crew members were alive and receiving food, though they continued to face harsh conditions.

“The matter is high on our radar,” Andrabi stated, describing it as a “pressing, emergent humanitarian imperative.”

He added that negotiations were taking place between the pirates and the ship owner, who was sharing developments with Somali authorities.

One-China policy

Responding to questions regarding Taiwan’s exclusion from the 79th World Health Assembly opening on May 18, Andrabi reaffirmed Pakistan’s consistent support for China’s position.

“We believe Taiwan to be an integral and inalienable part of China. There is absolutely no change in that position,” he said.

The spokesperson added that Pakistan would continue supporting China at the World Health Assembly and other multilateral forums.

Pakistan-UAE relations

When asked about Pakistan-UAE relations, Andrabi said they remained "strong and brotherly," built on longstanding cooperation and mutual trust.

He noted that more than 2.2 million Pakistanis live in the UAE, while bilateral trade stands at nearly $8-9 billion annually, alongside significant remittances sent home by the Pakistani diaspora.

Andrabi said Pakistan was unconcerned by the UAE’s relations with other countries, stressing that ties between Islamabad and Abu Dhabi were "immune from any external relations" and remained strong and stable.

Other matters

The Foreign Office also welcomed Australia’s designation of the Balochistan Liberation Army as a terrorist organization.

“Countries are increasingly designating this terrorist outfit,” Andrabi said, terming the development a result of Pakistan’s sustained diplomatic engagement.

On speculation regarding a possible visit by US President Donald Trump to Pakistan, the spokesperson said he had no information to share.

Regarding Pakistan-Russia relations, Andrabi said he could not confirm timelines for a proposed visa facilitation agreement or a possible visit by Pakistan’s prime minister to Moscow, referring those matters to the relevant ministries.