Pakistan Stands with Saudi Arabia Under Joint Defence Pact, Says Foreign Office

ISLAMABAD:Pakistan stands firmly with Saudi Arabia under the Makkah joint defence agreement and believes that the sanctity of the two holy mosques must be protected under all circumstances, Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan said on Friday.

During his weekly media briefing in Islamabad, the spokesperson described the October 2 attack on the Taiba Power Distribution Station as a serious provocation. He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had strongly condemned Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia.

He reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, security and protection, stressing that safeguarding the sanctity of the Haramain Sharifain remained essential.

### Pakistan-Mediated US-Iran Talks

Speaking about negotiations between the United States and Iran, Sajjad Haider Khan said discussions were continuing on seven points, with Washington having also shared its position on Iran’s proposals.

He said direct contacts between the United States and Iran had become possible as a result of Pakistan’s mediation efforts. An Islamabad memorandum of understanding was already in place, and some of the issues under discussion were consistent with it, he added.

The spokesperson said Pakistan and other key countries had a role to play in resolving the US-Iran dispute.

He reiterated that Islamabad wanted direct engagement between the two countries, a reduction in tensions and a negotiated settlement. Pakistan was ready to resume its mediation efforts if required, he added.

### Terrorism from Afghanistan a Serious Security Threat

The Foreign Office spokesperson said terrorism originating from Afghanistan posed a serious threat to neighbouring countries, particularly Pakistan.

He said Pakistan had conveyed its concerns about terrorism emanating from Afghanistan during the Moscow Format meeting.

According to the spokesperson, the Afghan Taliban delegation had not agreed to retain the position on terrorism expressed in the previous Moscow Format declaration.

He stressed that terrorism originating from Afghanistan was not merely a matter of statements for Pakistan but a critical national security concern.

The spokesperson said it was too early to determine whether Pakistan would participate in the next Moscow Format meeting.

### Pakistan Rejects India’s Maps of Disputed Kashmir

Sajjad Haider Khan said Pakistan rejected India’s attempts to incorporate disputed territories of Jammu and Kashmir into its maps.

He described India’s unilateral map-making measures as legally invalid and said they violated relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.

He maintained that no unilateral action by India could alter the disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir or undermine the inalienable right to self-determination of the Kashmiri people.

### Pakistan Seeks Probe into Deaths of Two Citizens

The spokesperson also said two Pakistani citizens were killed by India’s Border Security Force on October 2.

He said Pakistan had summoned India’s chargé d’affaires to the Foreign Office on October 3 to formally convey its concerns over the deaths.

Islamabad demanded an immediate, transparent and credible investigation into the incident, appropriate legal and disciplinary action against those responsible, and the sharing of the investigation’s findings.

Pakistan also urged India to exercise restraint and take effective measures to prevent similar incidents in the future, the spokesperson added.