Islamabad: The Foreign Office (FO) on Thursday stated that the response from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) regarding the recent terrorist attack in Balochistan “reinforces” Pakistan’s long-standing claims about external involvement in destabilizing activities.
At the weekly media briefing, FO spokesperson Tahir Andrabi reaffirmed Pakistan’s dedication to regional peace, dialogue, and diplomacy, while underscoring the country’s commitment to defending its national interests and maintaining a principled stance on international issues.
Ambassador Andrabi also recalled that February marks the 19th anniversary of the Samjhauta Express attack, which claimed more than 70 lives. He pointed out that Swami Aseemanand, one of the accused, has publicly admitted involvement in the incident, as has Indian Colonel Shrikant Purohit. Despite this, all four suspects remain at large, and India has yet to ensure justice, he added, dismissing the recent Indian statement as “unsubstantiated and lacking credibility.”
The spokesperson further highlighted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent visit to Qatar (February 23–24) at the invitation of Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, noting that both leaders reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral ties. They expressed satisfaction over political cooperation and emphasized enhancing collaboration in trade, investment, and economic development.
The Amir expressed Qatar’s intention to elevate economic relations to a strategic level and accepted the Prime Minister’s invitation to visit Pakistan later this year. During the visit, Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, also met PM Shehbaz to discuss defence and security cooperation, including ongoing joint initiatives between the armed forces of both countries. Sheikh Saud praised the professionalism of Pakistan’s military and reaffirmed Qatar’s interest in strengthening defence ties.
Additionally, Ambassador Andrabi mentioned that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar is currently on an official visit to Saudi Arabia (February 26–28) to participate in an extraordinary session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Executive Committee in Jeddah.
This emergency session is being held to address what Pakistan considers illegal actions by Israeli authorities, including settlement expansion and attempts to assert sovereignty over the Occupied West Bank. Senator Dar will present Pakistan’s viewpoint on Israel’s recent designation of parts of the West Bank as “state land” and is expected to hold bilateral discussions with other OIC foreign ministers.
Ambassador Andrabi concluded by noting that Pakistan has joined statements from OIC members and other countries condemning Israel’s actions, describing them as violations of international law and threats to regional peace and stability.
