ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan on Thursday categorically rejected media reports claiming that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar shared intelligence regarding Iran’s nuclear programme with the United States, describing such assertions as “entirely baseless” and aimed at undermining ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Responding to a question during his weekly Foreign Office briefing, spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said, “We categorically and unequivocally reject the assertion that the Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister shared any intelligence regarding Iran with the US Secretary of State, as referred to in certain media reports.”
“Such claims are entirely baseless, speculative, and appear to be aimed at undermining ongoing diplomatic efforts and the broader process of dialogue and engagement,” he added.
The spokesperson clarified that during the May 29 meeting between Dar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, the two sides held a “comprehensive exchange of views” on developments in the Middle East and the Gulf region, focusing on regional peace, stability and diplomatic solutions.
“No intelligence was shared during the course of this dialogue,” he stressed.
The clarification came amid speculation in sections of the media that Pakistan had passed sensitive information regarding Iran’s possible withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and alleged nuclear ambitions to Washington.
Commenting on the fragile ceasefire and diplomatic efforts in the region, Andrabi said Pakistan welcomed the positive role played by the United States in facilitating a ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel and remained committed to diplomacy.
“We remain firmly committed to dialogue, diplomacy, and peaceful engagement as the most effective means of addressing complex regional challenges and resolving contentious issues,” he said.
The Foreign Office also reiterated that Pakistan’s position on the Abraham Accords remains unchanged despite recent comments by President Donald Trump mentioning Pakistan in the context of regional normalization efforts.
Referring to remarks made by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar during his recent visit to Washington, Andrabi said Pakistan’s approach remains tied to the resolution of the Palestinian issue.
“Our benchmark is the establishment of a viable, contiguous State of Palestine, with Jerusalem (Al-Quds Al-Sharif) as its capital, within the agreed pre-1967 borders,” he said.
“Therefore, our position on this issue is closely linked to the establishment of a viable Palestinian state. Our position remains unchanged.”
The Foreign Office also issued a strong reaction to India’s reported plans to divert water from the Chenab River through the proposed Chenab-Beas Link Tunnel Project.
Andrabi said Islamabad had examined reports, including a public tender issued by the Indian government, which envisages transferring approximately 1.9 million acre-feet of water annually from the Chenab River into the Beas system.
“Such an inter-basin diversion of water from the Chenab into the Beas River system constitutes a grave violation not just of the Indus Waters Treaty, but also of the law of treaties, particularly the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, as well as the broader framework of international water law, including the principles reflected in the 1997 UN Convention on Watercourses,” he said.
He also expressed concern over India’s proposed silt-flushing operations at the Salal Dam reservoir in the Indian Illegally-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, saying the project would provide water-control capabilities not permitted under either the Indus Waters Treaty or the 1978 Salal Agreement.
According to the spokesperson, India has neither officially communicated details of the projects nor sought consultations with Pakistan.
“These projects confirm that India seeks to weaponise water,” he said, warning that such actions carry “dangerous implications not only for Pakistan’s economy, but also for regional stability and international peace and security.”
While reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to peaceful dispute resolution, Andrabi warned that any attempt to endanger Pakistan’s water security would be unacceptable.
“Pakistan retains all options necessary to safeguard its rights and entitlements under the Treaty, and to protect its vital national interests,” he said.
“And let me emphasize, we retain all options in this regard.”
The spokesperson urged the international community to call upon India to abandon projects aimed at stopping, reducing or diverting water flows that legally belong to Pakistan under the treaty framework.
Asked about reports that Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities had entered into a military cooperation agreement with Russia, the Foreign Office declined to comment in detail, saying information regarding the arrangement was still being verified.
“We have seen these reports. I understand that this agreement was concluded on 27 May. The details are still being ascertained,” Andrabi said.
“At this stage, it would be premature to offer any comment on the matter.”
However, while discussing Pakistan’s relations with Afghanistan, the spokesperson reiterated Islamabad’s demand that Afghan territory must not be used for terrorist activities against Pakistan.
“Our position remains that while we want dialogue and wish to pursue the path of diplomacy, we cannot allow the killing of Pakistani civilians and members of our law enforcement agencies by elements based in Afghanistan, or by those operating with the collusion of authorities there, to continue unchecked,” he said.
The spokesperson said Pakistan continues to seek “an unequivocal commitment from the Afghan side that its territory will not be used for terrorism against Pakistan.”
He also confirmed that the Chinese Special envoy recently held discussions in Islamabad on regional security, including threats posed by the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM).
“Pakistan and China agreed to strengthen coordination and synchronize their counterterrorism efforts in order to protect regional peace and security,” he said.
