ISLAMABAD (TNS) Pakistan Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi says that It has shown its red line regarding the International Stabilization Force, Pakistan cannot decide until its mandate is revealed, Pakistan can send its troops for peace, not to disarm Hamas. The Foreign Office Spokesperson responded to a question from senior Pakistani diplomatic analyst Asghar Ali Mubarak that, “The International Stabilization Force (ISF) will also have some agenda points, has Pakistan presented its point of view on this? Moreover, is any discussion expected regarding sending troops to Gaza in the summit of the Peace Board today? If there is something like this on the agenda, what is Pakistan’s position on it?”
Pakistan’s Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said that the Prime Minister is in the US at the invitation of the US President. The Prime Minister will attend the first meeting of the Peace Board. The absence of Israel in the Peace Board does not matter to Pakistan. During the weekly media briefing in Islamabad, the Foreign Office Spokesperson said that the Prime Minister will hold meetings with senior US officials during his visit to the US. The Prime Minister will also meet other heads of state participating in the Peace Board meeting. Tahir Hussain Andrabi said that he has shown his red line regarding the International Stabilization Force. Pakistan cannot decide until its mandate is revealed. Pakistan can provide its army for peace, not to disarm Hamas. The spokesperson said that the absence of Israel in the Peace Board does not matter to Pakistan. The statement of former Israeli Prime Minister Natalie Bennett is based on rumors. We do not respond to any of her statements. We will continue to provide full diplomatic moral support to our Kashmiri sisters and brothers. He said that regarding the International Stabilization Force, “We understand that a decision is awaited regarding the mandate of the International Stabilization Force and till then we are not in a position to take any decision on this matter. We have clearly identified our red line. Pakistan can be part of a peacekeeping mandate, but we will not be part of a non-armed/non-military mandate. This discussion (of the Peace Board) can take place in Washington. The participation of one or the other country in the meeting is not a direct cause for concern. We have joined the Peace Board with a specific focus, namely reconstruction in Gaza, a long-term settlement of the Palestinian issue. Therefore, we will continue to follow this approach, and will not be disturbed by the participation of one or the other country. We expect, as we have said, that the Peace Board is a ray of hope. Therefore, we hope that the Peace Board will live up to its expectations and help alleviate the plight of the Palestinian people, especially those living in Gaza, and pave the way for peace, prosperity, development and a lasting solution to the Palestinian issue. I think the topic of developments in the West Bank may also come up in the Peace Board meeting, which is that Israel is violating UN resolutions not only in Gaza but also in the wider Occupied Palestinian Territories. The Peace Board meeting provides an opportunity to discuss this important coordinated development that we have also clearly stated, including the eight Arab-Islamic Foreign Ministers who have expressed concern over these developments in their joint statement.
It should be noted that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Washington today on a three-day official visit to the United States. In Washington, Shehbaz Sharif will attend the inaugural meeting of the Peace Board today.
The Prime Minister’s delegation includes Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and other ministers. The Prime Minister will also speak to his counterparts participating in the meeting along with senior American leadership. This visit will provide an opportunity to discuss global issues along with bilateral matters between Pakistan and the United States.
