Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi has said the decision to send a peacekeeping force to Gaza would be made by Pakistan’s Parliament, clarifying that no such decision has been taken yet.
Rejecting Indian media reports alleging secret meetings between Pakistani intelligence officials and foreign agencies over financial matters, the spokesperson dismissed the claims as “fairy tales.” He clarified, “Pakistan has not held any meeting with any foreign intelligence agency, nor sought funds in exchange for troop deployment in Gaza. Indian media is known for its baseless and misleading reports.”
He reiterated that only Parliament has the authority to decide on sending any peacekeeping troops to Gaza, reaffirming that no such move is currently under consideration.
Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari recently visited Qatar, where he raised concerns over India’s violations of the Indus Waters Treaty, calling them a threat to regional stability. During his visit, he also met with several international leaders.
In a related development, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar visited Türkiye at the invitation of his Turkish counterpart to attend a meeting of Muslim countries on the Gaza crisis. During the meeting, Dar condemned Israeli aggression and urged unhindered access for humanitarian aid to Palestinians, reaffirming Pakistan’s principled stance on the issue.
On the sidelines of the event, Dar held talks with the Turkish foreign minister, expressing satisfaction over the positive trajectory of Pakistan-Türkiye relations. Upon returning, he attended the Google Chrome Summit and also held a telephonic discussion with Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand.
The spokesperson further dismissed Indian media claims that Pakistan had barred Hindu pilgrims from entry, clarifying that 2,400 visas had been issued to Hindu pilgrims. However, a few applicants were denied entry due to incomplete documentation, and “once their papers are in order, visas will be granted,” he added.