Foreign Office Unaware of Iran’s Decision on Recognizing Afghanistan; Says Sports Should Not Be Politicized
Islamabad: Pakistan’s Foreign Office on Thursday said it was not aware of any decision by Iran regarding the recognition of Afghanistan’s government, emphasizing that such decisions are sovereign matters for individual states.
During a weekly media briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi stated that Pakistan has no information about Iran recognizing the Afghan administration, adding that recognition is a sovereign choice of each country. He reiterated that Pakistan does not want Afghan soil to be used against it.
The spokesperson also criticized the politicization of cricket, calling it “regrettable.” He said Pakistan’s decision not to play against India was aimed at preventing sports from being used as a political weapon, while alleging that India sought to use cricket as leverage against Bangladesh.
Regional Engagements
Andrabi confirmed that the Presidents of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan recently visited Pakistan at the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Pakistan and Uzbekistan agreed to enhance bilateral trade to $2 billion and expand their Preferential Trade Agreement.
Similarly, Pakistan and Kazakhstan agreed to increase trade volume to $1 billion, while discussions were held on security, defense cooperation, and joint military exercises.
He added that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held contacts with Azerbaijan’s economic minister and spoke twice with Iran’s foreign minister.
Indus Waters Treaty and The Hague
The spokesperson said Pakistan’s legal team participated in hearings at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague regarding the Indus Waters Treaty. He noted that India had been invited and was obligated to attend under the treaty framework. Pakistan reiterated that both parties must adhere to the treaty’s provisions.
Concerns Over India and UN Report on Afghanistan
Andrabi expressed concern over mob violence against Muslims in India, stating that 55 Muslims lost their lives in such incidents last year. He called on the Indian government to ensure independent and impartial investigations and bring those responsible to justice.
Referring to a UN 1267 Sanctions Committee report, he said the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) continues to operate freely with backing from the de facto Afghan authorities. The report also highlighted the presence of ISIS-K in northern Afghanistan and confirmed TTP’s cross-border activities against Pakistan, as well as cooperation among militant groups including Katibat al-Hind, Tehreek-e-Khawarij, and the BLA.
Upcoming Visits and Other Matters
The spokesperson confirmed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will attend a meeting of the Gaza Board of Peace in Washington, accompanied by Ishaq Dar. However, he said no official announcement has been made regarding a visit to Munich.
He appreciated the United States’ role in facilitating peace during the recent 90-hour conflict with India and claimed that Pakistani forces downed Indian fighter jets, a claim he said was also acknowledged by the aircraft manufacturers. He warned that any future aggression by India would be met with a strong response.
Regarding financial matters, Andrabi said the United Arab Emirates had agreed to roll over its loan to Pakistan following positive efforts by Ishaq Dar.
He concluded by stating that diplomacy continues even during conflicts and reiterated that Pakistan seeks peaceful regional relations while safeguarding its sovereignty.
