Pakistan calls on foreign govts to take Afghan refugees ‘as soon as possible’

Pakistan on Friday expressed concern over delays in the resettlement of Afghan nationals awaiting relocation to third countries and reiterated security worries over cross-border terrorism emanating from Afghanistan.

Speaking at the weekly Foreign Office briefing, spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said, “Countries that have promised to resettle Afghan citizens should evacuate them from Pakistan as soon as possible. Pakistan has repeatedly raised this issue with these countries.”

He dismissed Afghan claims of Islamic State (ISIS) presence in Pakistan, stressing that terrorist groups operate from Afghan soil and continue to target Pakistan.

Regarding the recent Pakistan-Afghanistan ceasefire, Andrabi said, “This was not a traditional ceasefire. One condition was that there would be no terrorism from Afghanistan into Pakistan. Yet attacks persist, and even Afghan citizens are involved in terrorism inside Pakistan.”

On reports of potential Saudi mediation on Pakistan-Afghan Taliban relations, he said Islamabad was not aware of any formal proposal but welcomed “any serious mediation initiative.”

‘India spreading fake news’

Andrabi also criticized India, accusing it of spreading fake news targeting Pakistan. “India has become the epicenter of fake news, particularly focused on Pakistan,” he said, highlighting the role of online commentary accounts operating from Indian territory.

He further accused New Delhi of mismanaging regional water resources under the Indus Waters Treaty by withholding mandatory hydrological data, calling it a “clear treaty violation.” The matter has reportedly been raised at international forums, including a recent meeting of neutral experts in Vienna.

The spokesperson condemned remarks by Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh regarding Sindh, calling them a breach of international law and Pakistan’s sovereignty. “Sindh was the first province to vote for Pakistan. India must refrain from provocative statements,” he said.

Human rights and regional concerns

Pakistan also expressed serious concern over findings by UN experts on Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir. Andrabi highlighted reports of systematic human rights violations, noting that nearly 2,800 individuals - including journalists, students, and activists - have been arbitrarily detained.

The Foreign Office criticized the hoisting of a temple flag at the site of the historic Babri Mosque and condemned what it described as India’s discriminatory treatment of minorities, particularly Muslims.

Diplomatic and regional developments

Andrabi confirmed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s two-day visit to Bahrain, accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and cited the recent two-day visit of Iran’s Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Dr. Ali Larijani.

He added that Pakistan hopes for an amicable resolution to the Iran–Pakistan gas pipeline issue and announced that Pakistan has been elected to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).