Condemns Houthi attacks, warns any act against Pakistani vessels will be regarded as grave threat to national security
FO spokesperson Tahir Andrabi addresses a weekly press briefing in Islamabad. Photo: Screengrab
Pakistan on Thursday expressed “disappointment” over the European Union’s latest GSP+ assessment, saying the report failed to present a balanced picture of the country’s progress.
“I would be remiss if I do not express disappointment with the assessment and the report’s overall narrative, which does not present a sufficiently balanced picture of Pakistan’s performance under GSP+,” Foreign Office (FO) Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said during his weekly press briefing.
Andrabi said the assessment covered 60 beneficiary countries and included an individual report on Pakistan, describing it as “the final monitoring report under the current GSP+ framework on Pakistan’s compliance with the 27 international conventions.”
“So it’s the final report, the last of such series,” he said.
The spokesperson said Pakistan appreciated the report’s acknowledgement of “Pakistan’s legislative progress during the reporting period and the country’s continued compliance with the 27 international conventions.”
However, he added that despite recognising “the breadth of reforms undertaken since Pakistan joined the GSP+ in 2014”, the report placed “disproportionate emphasis on the lower than desirable level of progress in certain areas.”
Andrabi said the GSP+ scheme remained central to Pakistan’s economic relationship with the European Union, “supporting exports, employment, women’s economic participation, poverty reduction and broader economic development.”
“It is a mutually beneficial arrangement in that respect,” he said.
He added that Pakistan’s engagement with the European Union extended beyond GSP+ to areas including “development, migration, counter-terrorism, regional stability, climate resilience, connectivity and many other areas.”
“We will remain constructively engaged with the European Commission and other EU institutions and remain committed to the effective implementation of international conventions underpinning the GSP framework,” Andrabi said.
‘Any hostile act against Pakistani-flagged vessels will be regarded as grave threat to national security’
Andrabi also unequivocally condemned continued threats against Saudi Arabia and commercial shipping in the Red Sea, warning that any hostile act against Pakistani-flagged vessels or the country’s maritime interests would be regarded as a grave threat to its national security.
He said the Houthi militia had earlier this week threatened a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia’s commercial shipping in the Red Sea and noted that there had been reports of attacks against Saudi ships overnight.
“We reserve the right to take all necessary measures in self-defence consistent with international law,” he added.
The spokesperson said Pakistan “remains deeply concerned by attempts to draw the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia into the Middle East conflict” and reiterated its “unwavering support for the Kingdom’s security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.”
“We issued the details yesterday on this subject, which you all covered,” Andrabi said.
Referring to last week’s attacks on Saudi Arabia by armed groups in Yemen, he said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had issued “a very eloquent, strong statement.”
“Given that the escalation has continued, the words of our prime minister resonate even more profoundly,” he added.
Andrabi said that amid growing hostilities and armed attacks, Pakistan reiterated its call on all parties “to exercise restraint” and was “continuing its diplomatic outreach in support of dialogue and diplomacy.”
Pakistan’s recent diplomatic engagements
Andrabi also highlighted Pakistan’s recent diplomatic engagements aimed at easing regional tensions.
He said Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momineh visited Pakistan this week and met PM Shehbaz, the Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir.
“The visit reflects the two neighbours’ close coordination on regional developments and Pakistan’s continued diplomatic engagement with Iran,” he said.
Andrabi said Pakistan has “repeatedly called for restraint by all sides” and maintained that “dialogue remains the only viable solution to prevent a regional conflict.”
He said that, in line with Pakistan’s advocacy for dialogue and diplomacy, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar spoke with Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah on July 18, during which they discussed regional developments and emphasised de-escalation, respect for sovereignty and implementation of the Islamabad MOU.
“Both sides agreed to remain in contact,” he added.
The spokesperson said that, on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum in Manila, FM Dar met Egyptian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Immigration and Expatriates Dr Badr Abdelatty
According to Andrabi, the two leaders reviewed developments in the Middle East and underscored the importance of de-escalation and dialogue while emphasising respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states.
“They also discussed the broader implications of regional instability, particularly for global maritime trade, energy security and the world economy,” he said.
Andrabi said FM Dar also held a meeting in Manila with Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, during which the two leaders exchanged views on the latest regional and international developments.
He said the Omani foreign minister appreciated Pakistan’s “constructive role in promoting dialogue, de-escalation, and regional peace and security.”
“Both sides expressed concern over the recent developments in the region, stressed the importance of upholding ceasefire, respect for international law, and working towards lasting peace and stability,” Andrabi said.
The spokesperson added that FM Dar’s diplomatic outreach would continue in Bishkek, where he would lead Pakistan’s delegation to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers meeting during his visit to the Kyrgyz Republic from July 23 to 24.
“During the visit, FM Dar will call on the President of the Kyrgyz Republic and hold a number of bilateral meetings with his counterparts from SCO member states on the sidelines of the ministerial meeting,” Andrabi said.
He said that before travelling to Bishkek, FM Dar arrived in Manila to lead Pakistan’s delegation at the 33rd ARF Ministerial Meeting.
“Pakistan is an ARF member since 2004. We remain committed to promoting regional peace, stability and cooperation through dialogue and we remain a partner of ASEAN towards such endeavours,” Andrabi said.
He added that FM Dar was holding bilateral meetings with Philippine counterparts and other participating dignitaries on the sidelines of the forum.
Among the meetings held in Manila, Andrabi said FM Dar met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, with the two leaders reviewing “the full spectrum of Pakistan-Russia bilateral relations” and reaffirming their commitment to further strengthening cooperation in trade, energy, connectivity and other key areas, as well as enhancing coordination in multilateral forums.
“FM Dar also met Khalilur Rahman, President-elect of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, and visited the headquarters of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), where he met the bank’s Director General for Central and West Asia, Leah Gutierrez,” he said.
According to Andrabi, they discussed the bank’s development agenda and partnership with Pakistan and appreciated the contribution of Pakistani professionals serving at the ADB.
The spokesperson said FM Dar had also visited Shanghai on July 16-17 to attend the signing ceremony establishing the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation (WAICO).
“The initiative aims to strengthen international cooperation on artificial intelligence governance, research and capacity building,” Andrabi said.
He said Pakistan became a founding member of WAICO through FM Dar’s participation in the ceremony and looked forward to enhancing international cooperation on artificial intelligence, particularly South-South cooperation for sustainable economic development.
While in Shanghai, FM Dar also met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, with the two leaders discussing the implementation of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), regional connectivity, SCO cooperation, trade and the Pakistan-China strategic partnership.
“They also reaffirmed Pakistan-China all-weather strategic cooperative partnership through multifaceted sectoral cooperation,” Andrabi said.
The spokesperson also referred to Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand’s official visit to Pakistan on July 20, describing it as the first visit by a Canadian foreign minister in the past 20 years.
He said Anita held delegation-level talks with FM Dar and also met PM Shehbaz.
According to Andrabi, the two sides discussed bilateral relations, trade, investment, regional and global developments, climate cooperation and people-to-people contacts.
He added that Pakistan and Canada signed a protocol on phytosanitary import requirements for genetically modified canola intended for food, feed and processing, facilitating agricultural trade between the two countries.
“They also agreed to expand cooperation in trade, investment, security and development, reaffirming their commitment to institutionalising bilateral engagement,” he said.
“We completely reject the allegations made by Amnesty International”
Responding to another question during the briefing, Andrabi rejected allegations made by Amnesty International regarding Pakistan’s counterterrorism operations.
“We completely reject the allegations made by Amnesty International. It is unfortunate that such serious allegations have been presented without any credible evidence,” he said.
Andrabi added the Taliban regime continued to maintain “a permissive environment for a range of terrorist organisations including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and other affiliates.”
He said the freedom of these organisations to undertake terrorist activities, their access to bases and sanctuaries on Afghan soil, and their ability to recruit, finance and execute cross-border attacks constituted “a serious threat to regional peace and security.”
“Thousands of innocent Pakistani citizens have been martyred and injured because of terrorist attacks which have been planned, financed, supported and carried out from Afghan soil, all under the watch and patronage of active facilitation by the Taliban regime,” Andrabi said.
“No responsible state can remain passive when its civilians and security forces are repeatedly targeted,” he added.
Andrabi said any military strikes by Pakistan had been undertaken “in exercise of its right to self-defence under principles of necessity and as a measure of last resort” and were directed “only and exclusively against terrorists and their logistical support bases in Afghanistan.”
According to Andrabi, Pakistan’s response was proportionate to the level of threat while “strictly adhering to the principles of distinction, precaution and proportionality.”
“The scale and scope of this action reflected restraint, particularly in light of the severity and frequency of terrorist attacks faced by Pakistan,” he said.
“Pakistan rejects any insinuation in this regard otherwise,” said Andrabi.
He called on Amnesty International and the international community “to direct rigorous scrutiny towards the Taliban regime’s continued patronage of terrorist groups” and “to address the root causes that this Amnesty International report has conspicuously failed to address.”
He also urged the international community to hold the Afghan Taliban regime accountable for “its failure to uphold its obligations under the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, its own Doha Agreement and other related commitments to prevent Afghan soil from being used as a launch pad for terrorism.”
“Pakistan reserves the right to take all necessary measures in order to safeguard its sovereignty, territorial integrity and safety and security of its people,” Andrabi said.
