Islamabad: In a weekly press briefing, Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan stated that India violated Pakistani airspace and conducted airstrikes on Pakistani territory. In response, Pakistan exercised its right to self-defense under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Khan emphasized that Pakistan’s retaliatory actions were driven by clear and justifiable motives. He welcomed the recent ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan, noting that the truce was made possible through the efforts of several friendly nations.
When asked about recent high-level meetings between Afghanistan and India, Khan reiterated Pakistan’s stance on sovereign foreign policy, stating, “Afghanistan is an independent and sovereign nation with every right to maintain bilateral relations with any country. We do not comment on the bilateral ties of other nations.” He affirmed that both India and Afghanistan are recognized by Pakistan as sovereign and independent states.
The spokesperson further stressed that Pakistan believes in resolving issues through peaceful means and is not afraid of dialogue on the issue of terrorism. “We have suffered from terrorism ourselves and understand the pain it causes,” he added.
Khan also accused India of being involved in promoting and supporting terrorism inside Pakistan, asserting that the country possesses concrete evidence and materials proving Indian involvement. However, he said it was premature to discuss the location or modality of any potential talks at this stage.
Commenting on the recent visit of the UK Foreign Secretary to Pakistan, Khan described the trip as significant, underscoring the importance of the UK as a close friend and key partner. “We welcome Britain’s constructive role in helping reduce regional tensions,” he stated.
