Field Marshal Asim Munir’s Iran visit had no US link, Pakistan says
Pakistan on Thursday dismissed as baseless reports linking Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir’s recent visit to Iran with the United States, saying the trip was aimed at advancing Pakistan’s mediation efforts and promoting a peaceful resolution to regional tensions.
Speaking at the weekly press briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said that Field Marshal Asim Munir visited Iran on August 24 and held detailed discussions with Iranian officials on reducing tensions in the region and finding solutions to the crisis through dialogue.
He, however, rejected claims that the Field Marshal visited Tehran as an envoy for the US President, clarifying that the visit was undertaken strictly within Pakistan’s independent capacity as a mediator.
“The visit was part of Pakistan’s ongoing diplomatic efforts,” the spokesperson said, adding that Islamabad remained in contact with brotherly countries to help de-escalate tensions and address the crisis in the Middle East.
Andrabi said Pakistan had continued to play a sincere and constructive role in reducing differences between the US and Iran and would maintain diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving a peaceful settlement and lasting regional stability.
He added that Pakistan’s efforts were also aimed at facilitating the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, while the Iranian leadership had appreciated Islamabad’s role.
Dar continues regional diplomatic contacts
The spokesperson said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar was continuing consultations with his counterparts over the regional situation.
According to Andrabi, Dar held telephone conversations with the Egyptian foreign minister on August 14, the Jordanian foreign minister on August 19, the Brazilian foreign minister on August 20 and the Uzbek foreign minister on August 23.
He also spoke with the Turkish foreign minister on August 17, 19 and 25, while holding a telephone conversation with his Kuwaiti counterpart.
Dar also spoke with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Andrabi said, reaffirming that Pakistan would continue to support multilateralism and an effective role for the United Nations.
Pakistan to host SCO summit in 2027
Andrabi said Pakistan had assumed the chairmanship of the SCO for one year and would host the organisation’s summit in Islamabad in 2027.
He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would attend the upcoming SCO conference in Bishkek, where he was also expected to hold bilateral meetings with leaders of various countries.
The dates and programme for the prime minister’s visit to Bishkek would be announced in the coming days, the spokesperson added.
Pakistan reaffirms support for Syria
The spokesperson said Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan visited Pakistan from August 19 to 20, marking the first visit by a Syrian foreign minister to Islamabad since the formation of Syria’s new government.
During the visit, Pakistan reaffirmed its support for Syria’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, he added.
Andrabi also expressed Pakistan’s condolences over the loss of life and destruction caused by recent floods in Nepal.
He said President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar had conveyed condolences over the casualties, while the Pakistani nation stood in solidarity with the affected people of Nepal.
Makkah defence pact open to interested countries
On the Makkah defence agreement, Andrabi described it as a defence framework aimed at preserving peace and promoting regional stability.
He said the agreement was open to countries willing to commit to collective responsibilities and shared security interests.
Any formal request to join the pact would be considered after consultations with partners in Riyadh and Ankara, he said, adding that implementation of the agreement remained at an early stage.
“If formal requests are received from Iran, Syria or any other countries expressing interest in the Makkah agreement, they will be considered,” the spokesperson said.
Pakistan sets conditions for talks with Afghanistan
On relations with Afghanistan, Andrabi said Pakistan remained ready for state-level negotiations but stressed that Kabul must ensure its territory was not used for terrorism against Pakistan.
He said Afghanistan’s interim government must fulfil its international obligations, including those under the Doha framework, and prevent groups such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) from using Afghan soil against Pakistan.
Pakistan was prepared to establish institutional channels of engagement with Afghanistan provided they resulted in verifiable counterterrorism measures, he said.
The spokesperson added that Islamabad wanted effective border management and concrete, verifiable action against terrorism, stressing that any future dialogue process with Afghanistan would be judged by practical and verifiable progress.