Pakistan stands firmly with Saudi Arabia, FO says

Pakistan has reaffirmed its support for Saudi Arabia under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement. The Foreign Office has stressed that the sanctity of Haramain Sharifain, the holy sites in Makkah and Madinah, must be protected under all circumstances.

Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan made these remarks during the weekly media briefing in Islamabad on Friday. He said Pakistan supported Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, security and protection. He added that safeguarding the holy sites remained a matter of great importance for Pakistan.

The spokesperson described the October 2 attack on the Taiba Power Distribution Station as a serious provocation. He also said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had strongly condemned Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia.

He reiterated that Pakistan stood firmly with Saudi Arabia under the defence agreement. He said Islamabad remained committed to protecting regional peace and stability. Pakistan would continue to support efforts to prevent further escalation and address security concerns through diplomatic engagement.

The spokesperson also discussed Pakistan’s mediation efforts between the United States and Iran. He said Islamabad was ready to resume its role as a mediator if required. He stressed that Pakistan wanted both countries to resolve their differences through dialogue.

According to Sajjad Haider Khan, discussions between Washington and Tehran were continuing around seven points. He said the United States had also shared its position on Iran’s seven-point proposal. He added that direct contacts between the two countries had become possible through Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts.

The spokesperson said a memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran already existed. Some of the points under discussion were also consistent with that understanding. He noted that Pakistan and other important countries continued to play a role in efforts to resolve the dispute.

He said Islamabad wanted to encourage direct engagement between Washington and Tehran. Pakistan believed that negotiations offered a way to reduce tensions and reach a peaceful settlement. The spokesperson reiterated that the country remained willing to facilitate further talks if the need arose.

The Foreign Office also expressed concern over terrorism originating from Afghanistan. The spokesperson described it as a serious threat to neighbouring countries, particularly Pakistan. He said Islamabad had raised its concerns during the Moscow Format meeting on Afghanistan.

However, he noted that the Afghan Taliban delegation had not agreed to retain the position on terrorism included in the previous meeting’s joint statement. He stressed that terrorism originating from Afghanistan was not merely a diplomatic issue for Pakistan. It was a direct concern for the country’s national security.

The spokesperson said a decision on Pakistan’s participation in the next Moscow Format meeting had not yet been made. He added that it was too early to comment on the country’s future participation.

Sajjad Haider Khan also rejected India’s attempts to include disputed areas of Jammu and Kashmir in its maps. He said unilateral map-making could not change the internationally disputed status of the region.

He maintained that India’s actions had no legal effect and violated relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. He added that such measures could not undermine the inalienable right of the Kashmiri people to self-determination.

The spokesperson reiterated Pakistan’s position that Jammu and Kashmir remained a disputed territory. He said no unilateral action by India could change its status or resolve the longstanding dispute.

The Foreign Office also raised the deaths of two Pakistani citizens allegedly killed by India’s Border Security Force on October 2. The spokesperson said Pakistan had summoned India’s chargé d’affaires to the Foreign Office on October 3 to lodge a formal protest.

He said Islamabad had demanded an immediate, transparent and credible investigation into the incident. Pakistan had also called for appropriate legal and disciplinary action against those responsible. It further demanded that the findings of the investigation be shared with Pakistani authorities.

The spokesperson said Pakistan had urged India to exercise restraint and take effective steps to prevent similar incidents in the future. He stressed the importance of accountability and measures to avoid further tensions between the two countries.

The briefing highlighted Pakistan’s diplomatic priorities, including its defence partnership with Saudi Arabia, efforts to facilitate US-Iran negotiations, concerns over cross-border terrorism from Afghanistan and its position on the Kashmir dispute. Islamabad reiterated its support for diplomatic solutions and regional stability while calling for accountability over incidents affecting Pakistani citizens.