“Despite recent escalations, we remain hopeful, and we will continue to strive for dialogue and diplomacy,” Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said at a weekly press briefing on Wednesday.

Andrabi said both sides had carried out attacks and retaliatory strikes and that Islamabad was closely monitoring the situation.

He said conflicts generally pass through stages of de-escalation, calm, ceasefire and eventually a return to negotiations.

Describing the latest escalation as “concerning and undesirable”, Andrabi said Pakistan had not lost hope in the peace process.

He rejected the suggestion that the renewed fighting represented a failure of Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts, saying Islamabad had engaged in the process with “complete sincerity” to help resolve the conflict.

Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts would continue, he said, expressing hope that Washington and Tehran would return to the negotiating table once the latest escalation subsided.

Andrabi said the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) provided a framework for resuming negotiations at political and technical levels and could be activated if both sides were willing to restart talks.

He said the peace framework outlined in the MoU remained intact and there was no question of declaring it dead or ineffective.

The spokesperson added that strong statements from both sides were not unusual during periods of heightened tensions, while Islamabad remained hopeful of a return to negotiations.

Andrabi said Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir’s visit to Tehran last week had been an important part of Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts.

He said the visit focused on reducing regional tensions, encouraging negotiations and creating fresh momentum in the diplomatic process.

The subsequent visits to the region by the leadership of Oman and Qatar also demonstrated continued diplomatic momentum, he added.

Indus Waters Treaty

On the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), Andrabi said the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague had reaffirmed that the treaty remained binding and in force, rejecting India’s unilateral attempt to place it in abeyance.

He described the unanimous decision as an important reaffirmation of the treaty’s status and the principle of international law.

According to the spokesperson, the court determined that India’s purported decision to suspend the treaty did not release it from its obligations and that the treaty’s dispute-resolution mechanism remained operational.

He said an interim measure concerning the Ratle Hydroelectric Power Project further affirmed that rights and obligations under the treaty could not be altered through unilateral action.

“Pakistan welcomes these clear and authoritative pronouncements,” Andrabi said, adding that the decision supported Islamabad’s position that disputes over the IWT must be addressed within the treaty’s framework and in accordance with international law.

Makkah Joint Defence Agreement

Regarding the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, Andrabi said its Strategic Political and Defence Committee held its inaugural meeting in Istanbul on August 31.

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye agreed to institutionalise cooperation under the agreement, strengthen collective defence and enhance joint security, he said.

The three countries also reaffirmed their commitment to regional peace and stability through efforts to resolve crises and reduce tensions.

A secretariat for the agreement will be established in Saudi Arabia, while its secretary-general will initially be appointed from Pakistan for a three-year term, Andrabi said.

The countries will also expand cooperation in defence industries, joint technology development and strengthening the capabilities of their armed forces.

Pakistan assumes SCO chairmanship

On Pakistan’s assumption of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) chairmanship, Andrabi said Islamabad had adopted the theme of turning vision into action through connectivity, innovation and shared prosperity.

Pakistan would work with member states to promote regional peace and stability, economic cooperation and connectivity, he said.

Andrabi said Pakistan would hold the chairmanship for one year and host the SCO summit next year.

PM Shehbaz's Kyrgyzstan visit

Turning to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Kyrgyzstan, Andrabi said the premier was in Bishkek, where he met Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov.

Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan signed several agreements and memorandums of understanding covering trade, economic cooperation, investment and other areas, he said.

The two leaders also addressed a joint press conference on bilateral relations.

Before the bilateral talks, Shehbaz attended the SCO Council of Heads of State meeting and the SCO Plus summit, where he also held meetings with counterparts and other world leaders.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also met the SCO secretary-general and the UN secretary-general, Andrabi said.

Pakistan rejects Yasin Malik case and sentence

On Kashmiri leader Yasin Malik, Andrabi said Pakistan completely rejected the case and sentence against him.

He described the proceedings as contrary to fundamental requirements of justice and said Pakistan considered the trial and sentence politically motivated.

Islamabad would continue raising Malik’s case at international and multilateral forums and would urge the international community to take notice, he said.

The spokesperson also expressed prayers for Malik’s health and long life.

Paying tribute to veteran Kashmiri leader Syed Ali Geelani, Andrabi said he remained in Pakistan’s prayers.

Afghan envoy's NDU visit described as academic

Regarding the Afghan ambassador’s interaction at the National Defence University (NDU), Andrabi said the visit was purely academic.

He said visits by Afghan ambassadors to educational institutions were routine and should not be given undue significance in the context of Pakistan-Afghanistan relations.

Andrabi said China’s special representative for Afghanistan remained in Pakistan from August 31 to September 1 and held discussions with Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Mohammad Sadiq.

Pakistan appreciated China’s constructive and sustained diplomatic efforts on Afghanistan, he said, adding that Islamabad remained positively engaged in efforts to promote constructive dialogue.

However, Pakistan’s position remained unchanged that Afghan territory must not be used for terrorism against Pakistan.

The Taliban government would have to take concrete and verifiable measures to prevent terrorism emanating from Afghanistan, Andrabi said.

He said action against the proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and other militant organisations was necessary.

Pakistan’s future decisions on talks and engagement with Afghanistan would remain conditional on guarantees from the Taliban government that Afghan soil would not be used for terrorism against Pakistan, he added.

Asked about the possibility of a second phase of talks, Andrabi said Islamabad currently had no information on the matter.