ISLAMABAD – Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan has warned that Israel’s expansionist policies will heighten tensions in the region, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to a just two-state solution for Palestine. Speaking at the weekly media briefing, he said President of Iran recently paid an important visit to Pakistan, during which President Asif Ali Zardari condemned Israeli aggression and received appreciation from his Iranian counterpart for Pakistan’s stance.
During the visit, the Iranian President also met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, with both leaders agreeing to boost bilateral trade. The trip was made at the Prime Minister’s invitation, and the Iranian leader expressed gratitude for Pakistan’s support against Israeli actions. Meetings with Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar further highlighted Pakistan’s consistent advocacy for a two-state solution.
The spokesperson announced that Pakistan has sent its 18th relief shipment to Gaza on the Prime Minister’s directives, containing food rations, edibles, and medicines. He stressed that this ongoing aid reflects Pakistan’s unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people. Khan also strongly condemned the desecration of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, noting that Israeli actions violate United Nations resolutions.
Addressing other issues, Khan said Pakistan supports a peaceful, dialogue-based settlement to the Ukraine conflict and rejects allegations of Pakistani involvement in the war, noting that Kyiv has yet to contact Islamabad over the matter. On Kashmir, he reaffirmed Pakistan’s political, diplomatic, and moral backing for the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination, citing a recent letter from the Deputy Prime Minister to the UN urging a peaceful resolution in line with Security Council resolutions.