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PAKISTAN OPTIMISTIC AHEAD OF NOV 6 TALKS AS KABUL ‘CONCEDES’ TTP PRESENCE, SAYS FO Saturday, 1 November, 2025 | 9 Jamadiul Awwal, 1447
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ISLAMABAD CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC AS FRESH ROUND OF PAK-AFGHAN TALKS BEGINS ON NOV 6 IN ISTANBUL
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ISLAMABAD
Staff RepoRt
AKISTAN on Friday stated that the Afghan Taliban government in “Kabul had acknowledged” the presence of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other terrorist groups on its soil—a rare admission that Islamabad said reinforced its long-standing security concerns. The Foreign Office expressed guarded optimism ahead of the next round of Pakistan-Afghanistan talks, scheduled for November 6, hoping that the dialogue—mediated by Turkiye and Qatar—would yield “fruitful and verifiable results” on counterterrorism commitments. Addressing the weekly press briefing, Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir
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FO SPOKESPERSON SAYS AFGHAN AUTHORITIES OFFERED ‘VARIOUS JUSTIFICATIONS’ FOR NOT ACTING AGAINST TERRORISTS
Hussain Andrabi said the acknowledgment by Kabul marked a critical development in the ongoing discussions. “The Afghan Taliban government has acknowledged the presence of TTP and other terrorist organizations,” he said. “Afghan authorities have given various justifications for not taking action against these organisations, but their presence reinforces Pakistan’s security concerns.” The FO spokesperson underscored that Pakistan’s engagement with Kabul over the past four years had been consistent and professional, even amid deteriorating security conditions and escalating tensions along the border. “We are not extremely optimistic, but maintaining optimism in diplomacy is a professional requirement,” he added.
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Rs 20.00 | Vol XVI No 115 | 8 Pages | Karachi Edition
STRESSES ISLAMABAD’S COMMITMENT TO DIPLOMACY, SAYS OPTIMISM IS ‘A PROFESSIONAL NECESSITY’
ASIF SLAMS ‘IRRESPONSIBLE’ REMARKS ON GAZA PEACE FORCE ISLAMABAD
Staff RepoRt
Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Friday categorically distanced the government from a controversial statement made by federal spokesperson Danyal Chaudhry regarding the role of Pakistani troops in a proposed Gaza peace force, saying such remarks were “irresponsible, misleading, and against Pakistan’s stated position.” Chaudhry, who serves as the federal parliamentary secretary for information and broadcasting, had suggested during a TV interview that Pakistan’s forces would
play a central role in maintaining security in Gaza—including the disarmament of Hamas—as part of a new multinational International Stabilization Force (ISF) to be deployed under a US-brokered Gaza Peace Agreement. However, Asif strongly rejected the assertions, describing them as “personal views” that neither reflected the government’s stance nor aligned with Pakistan’s foreign or defence policy. “I will say God forbid on all these three remarks; what kind of statement has he given? Nothing from this is our target or suits us,” Asif said in a televised response.
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PM assures KP CM of Centre’s full cooperation against terrorism CHITRAL/ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Friday reaffirmed the federal government’s firm commitment to support the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government in restoring peace, defeating terrorism, and accelerating socio-economic development across the province, particularly in its remote districts like Chitral. Addressing a large public gathering
in district Chitral, the prime minister congratulated Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on his election and assured him of the Centre’s “full cooperation” in combating terrorism and maintaining peace. “I hope he will accept my offer, and together we will work for the development and prosperity of the country,” he said. The Prime Minister announced a comprehensive development package for Chitral, covering the education, health, and energy sectors. The projects include
construction of a hospital in Upper Chitral, a modern hospital and a university by the federal government, and the completion of key highways, including the Chitral-Mastung-Shandur Road, while access to the Lower Tunnel had already been completed. PM Shehbaz Sharif also assured the residents that the federal government would address electricity tariff issues in the area and that students from Chitral would be included in the federal Laptop
Scheme. He recalled that a day earlier, he had announced 100,000 laptops for youth in Islamabad. The Prime Minister lauded the efforts of the armed forces under the leadership of Field Marshal Asim Munir for thwarting India’s hostile designs, while paying tribute to the Pakistan Air Force and Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu for safeguarding the country’s airspace.
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Islamabad rejects ‘false propaganda’ by Indian channel over Gaza troop claim ISLAMABAD
Staff RepoRt
Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Friday strongly rejected what it called “false and baseless propaganda” by an Indian television channel alleging military cooperation between Pakistan and Israel. he ministry said that Republic TV in India had falsely claimed Pakistan was preparing to send 20,000 troops to Gaza under the supervision of Western countries and Israel, a report it described as “entirely fabricated and malicious.” The channel further alleged that Pakistan had removed the “non-use for Israel” clause from its passports. In response, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement reaffirming that the country has never recognized Israel and that no form of military cooperation is under discussion or consideration. The ministry clarified that the clause restricting Pakistani passports from being valid for travel to Israel “remains unchanged.” The Directorate General of Immigration and Passports also confirmed that Pakistani passports continue to carry the original restriction, remaining valid for all countries except Israel. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting condemned the Indian report as part of a “broader campaign” to malign Pakistan and mislead the public through disinformation. It said the false narrative reflected a “habitual pattern of irresponsible journalism” aimed at undermining Pakistan’s principled foreign policy positions. The statement emphasized that Pakistan’s stance on Israel is clear and consistent: the country does not recognize Israel and firmly supports the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and statehood. Labeling the reports as “propaganda by godi media”, a term often used for pro-government Indian outlets, the ministry said such fabrications were designed to divert attention from India’s own domestic and regional controversies. “Pakistan remains resolute in its historical and moral support for the Palestinian cause,” the statement concluded, reaffirming Islamabad’s commitment to a just and lasting peace based on international law and UN resolutions.