ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office on Thursday stated that Pakistan will play a role in efforts to establish peace in Gaza but will not participate in any move to disarm Hamas.
During the weekly media briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said that the Prime Minister is currently in New York on a visit to the United States at the invitation of President Trump.
The Prime Minister is scheduled to attend the Gaza Board of Peace meeting today and is also expected to hold important meetings with senior US officials.
The spokesperson added that Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is also present in New York. The Deputy Prime Minister has met with the Palestinian Permanent Representative and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty.
Prior to his visit to Austria, the Deputy Prime Minister also held telephone conversations with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty.
He further said that the Prime Minister visited Vienna, Austria, at the invitation of Austrian Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker.
A joint communiqué was issued at the conclusion of the visit. During his stay in Austria, the Prime Minister also met with Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The spokesperson emphasized that Pakistan will only contribute to efforts aimed at establishing peace in Gaza and is not part of any decision against any specific group or organization. He expressed hope that the Gaza Board of Peace would help improve the situation and ease the suffering of the people of Gaza.
He clarified that while Pakistan will participate in the peace process, it will not be involved in any initiative to disarm Hamas.
Responding to reports about the arrest of Indian citizen Nikhil Gupta, the spokesperson said Pakistan has evidence of Indian-backed terrorist groups operating in the country. He added that no decision has been made regarding the International Assistance Security Forces.
