Web Desk: Pakistan strongly rejected recent Indian statements on Jammu and Kashmir, calling the region internationally recognised as disputed, and warned it would firmly counter any attempt to use water as a “weapon,” the foreign office said.
Foreign office spokesperson Tahir Andarabi said in a weekly briefing that recent remarks from New Delhi carried no legal weight and were aimed at diverting attention from what Islamabad described as human rights violations in Indian-administered Kashmir.
Reaffirming its longstanding position, Pakistan said it would continue to extend political, diplomatic and moral support to the Kashmiri people until they are granted their right to self-determination under United Nations Security Council resolutions.
Meanwhile, Islamabad warned against any attempt to restrict or weaponise river flows under the Indus Waters Treaty framework, describing such moves as destabilising. The 1960 treaty, brokered by the World Bank, governs the sharing of river waters between the two countries.
Over the years, Indian political rhetoric has at times included threats to limit water flows, which Pakistan has previously characterised as escalatory and contrary to international norms.
Separately, Pakistan said it was intensifying diplomatic efforts to secure the release of citizens held by pirates off the Somali coast for nearly 50 days.
The foreign office said Pakistani nationals were among crew members on a cargo vessel seized in the region, adding that the situation remained “complex and sensitive,” with limited progress so far.
Officials said Islamabad was in continuous contact with Somali authorities, local stakeholders and the vessel’s owner, while pursuing multiple diplomatic channels.
In addition, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held a detailed telephone conversation with his Somali counterpart this week, urging urgent steps to ensure the safe release of all hostages.
The Somali ambassador in Islamabad was also summoned to the foreign ministry to convey Pakistan’s concerns, while inter-ministerial meetings were held to coordinate a broader response.
Moreover, Pakistan expressed concern over rising tensions in the Middle East and Gulf region, urging all parties to respect ceasefire agreements and avoid further escalation.
The foreign office called for renewed diplomatic engagement, saying disputes should be resolved through dialogue rather than the use of force, and warned that continued instability could worsen humanitarian and economic conditions across the region.
Islamabad said it remained in contact with regional and international partners to help prevent further deterioration in security.
Tensions between Pakistan and India over Kashmir date back to partition in 1947, with the region divided but claimed in full by both nuclear-armed neighbours.
Pakistan maintains that Kashmir remains a disputed territory under United Nations resolutions, while relations between the two countries have frequently deteriorated amid border tensions and diplomatic standoffs.
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