ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi Friday said that the talks between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban in Istanbul are taking place with Islamabad’s firm stance that Afghan soil must not be used against Pakistan.
While fully supporting Pakistan’s demands, the spokesperson said that the mediators are engaged in discussions with the Afghan Taliban on demands. He urged the public to ignore social media posts circulating about the issue, emphasizing that only official statements should be trusted.
In a weekly briefing, Andarabi reiterated that Pakistan will not tolerate any violation of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWS), terming it a matter of survival for the country. He further stated that the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir continue to face Indian state-sponsored terrorism.
The FO spokesperson condemned Israel’s repeated violations of the Gaza ceasefire. He described the Gaza peace initiative as a sincere effort to bring lasting stability. He also urged the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Palestinian territories.
The FO Spokesperson Andrabi said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is on an official visit to Azerbaijan at the invitation of the host government to attend the 5th anniversary celebrations of the country’s Victory Day in Baku.
Spokesperson added that President Asif Ali Zardari delivered a key address at the Doha Conference, where he emphasized Pakistan’s position on the Kashmir issue.
Peace talks between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban are underway in Istanbul, he said, adding that Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar visited Istanbul on November 3 where he held discussions on multiple important matters.
