Foreign Nationals’ Participation in Pakistani Political Gatherings is Illegal: Foreign Office

Islamabad: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that the government is not engaged in any negotiations with the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). In a media briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch reiterated Pakistan’s stance that talks with the TTP would be detrimental to the thousands of families who have suffered from the group’s violence. She emphasized that there are no ongoing negotiations with the TTP and reaffirmed Pakistan’s desire for peaceful relations with all neighboring countries.
Regarding comments by Israeli leadership on Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Baloch said it was not appropriate for Pakistan to comment on such statements. She also reiterated Pakistan’s strong condemnation of the ongoing genocide in Gaza and expressed support for Lebanon’s sovereignty and the ceasefire agreements in the region.
The spokesperson also addressed the issue of foreign nationals participating in political protests and gatherings in Pakistan. She stated that the Ministry of Interior had detained Afghan nationals involved in recent protests, adding that it is entirely illegal for foreign citizens to participate in Pakistani political events. Baloch urged all foreign nationals to stay away from Pakistan’s internal political matters, and confirmed that further details regarding the detained Afghan citizens would be shared by the Ministry of Interior.
On a separate note, Baloch clarified that there are no travel restrictions for Pakistanis to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the government is not aware of the exact number of Pakistanis currently imprisoned in the UAE.
Regarding international diplomacy, Baloch highlighted agreements made during the visit of Belarusian President, including on economy, connectivity, business forums, customs, and other matters. Furthermore, she announced that Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, will visit Iran on December 2-3 to enhance cooperation under the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) framework and to sign the ECO Clean Energy Charter. The visit will also focus on Middle East peace and security issues.