Web desk(National Times)-The Foreign Office (FO) on Thursday refuted reports that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar shared any intelligence regarding Iran\u2019s nuclear programme during a meeting with United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dar met with Rubio<\/a> on May 29 during a brief visit to Washington, where the two discussed bilateral cooperation as well as regional security issues. Rubio had praised Islamabad\u2019s role \u201cin advancing peace in the Middle East\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Responding to queries during a weekly press briefing<\/a> on Thursday, FO Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Islamabad \u201ccategorically and unequivocally\u201d rejected claims made in certain media reports that Dar shared any intelligence regarding Iran with Rubio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSuch claims are entirely baseless, speculative, and appear to be aimed at undermining ongoing diplomatic efforts and the broader process of dialogue and engagement,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emphasising that the discussion between Dar and Rubio \u201cfocused on regional peace, stability, and the importance of pursuing diplomatic solutions to ongoing challenges\u201d, Andrabi asserted that \u201cno intelligence was shared during the course of this dialogue\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Welcoming the \u201ccontinued engagement\u201d of the US in peace efforts and its \u201cpositive role\u201d in the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, he cautioned the media against \u201cspeculative and unwarranted reports\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A journalist had asked Andrabi about media reports that Dar had allegedly shared intelligence with Rubio regarding Iran, \u201cincluding possible signals such as withdrawal from the NPT and the development of a nuclear weapon\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The reports, according to the journalist, had claimed that the information resulted in the US urging Israel to halt its attacks in Lebanon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The question came after former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) analyst Larry Johnson, quoting an unnamed source, claimed<\/a> that Dar had a conversation with Rubio that \u201crevealed what Iran is prepared to do to preserve its independence\u201d, which allegedly \u201calarmed\u201d Rubio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rubio had also responded to the claims during a congressional hearing on Wednesday. US Congressman Scott Perry asked him if Dar had delivered a message that Iran is \u201cprepared to demonstrate a nuclear weapon should the current escalation continue\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI have not seen that reporting and I am not aware of any such message,\u201d Rubio responded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Perry again referred to the reports, to which Rubio said that no such message had been delivered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI would be surprised if that message had been relayed. I would be aware of it if it was,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The US-Iran conflict is currently stalemated in a shaky ceasefire<\/u><\/a> struck in April, which was followed by historic direct talks<\/a> between the warring parties hosted by Pakistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Though daily strikes throughout Iran and the Gulf have stopped since then, bursts of armed conflict have continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The US and Iran exchanged attacks<\/a> on each other\u2019s military targets on Monday. After the US military carried out strikes near the Strait of Hormuz, Iran responded<\/a> with a missile attack on Wednesday, damaging Kuwait\u2019s airport and resulting in casualties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since the conflict began, Iran has repeatedly attacked targets in the Gulf region home to US military bases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, Israel\u2019s expanding front<\/u><\/a> in Lebanon has proved to be the main spoiler in the peace process, with rising tensions even prompting US President Donald Trump to tell Israel\u2019s PM Benjamin Netanyahu to halt the attacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nevertheless, diplomacy<\/a> has continued<\/u><\/a> with Trump under pressure<\/a> to reach an agreement that would lift the US and Iranian competing blockades around the Strait of Hormuz, which have choked international oil supplies and threatened the global economy with rising prices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the continued captivity of 10 Pakistanis aboard an oil tanker seized by Somali pirates, the FO said Islamabad remained \u201cactively engaged\u201d in efforts to secure their release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The MT Honour 25, a Palau-flagged product tanker, was seized<\/a> on April 21, approximately 30 nautical miles off Somalia\u2019s Puntland region with 17 crew members aboard, 10 of them Pakistani.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUnfortunately, the situation remains grave,\u201d Andrabi acknowledged when asked about the latest update on the situation, days after a video<\/a> emerged showing the captives with discoloured water available for drinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPakistan remains in contact with the ship owner, who is the principal negotiator with the pirates. These negotiations have been taking place with the knowledge of the Somali government,\u201d the FO spokesperson stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He explained that the \u201cgeographical circumstances, coupled with the fact that the ship is carrying highly explosive cargo, make any law-enforcement operation to secure the release of the captive extremely difficult\u201d, as Pakistan did not want to endanger the safety of the captives.Families of the Pakistani hostage crew members of an oil tanker that was hijacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia, hold placards during a protest, calling on the government to take immediate action for the safe return of their loved ones, in Karachi on May 13, 2026. \u2014 Reuters\/File<\/p>\n\n\n\n The FO urged both the Somali government and the ship owner to ensure that the hostages were provided with food, drinking water, and other basic necessities. Relevant stakeholders, including the interior and maritime affairs ministries, were involved in the matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis is a very difficult situation. Our hearts go out to the families of those being held captive,\u201d the spokesperson said, requesting patience from the families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA team from our Embassy in Djibouti also visited Mogadishu to obtain first-hand information. Therefore, all channels of communication with both the ship owner and the Somali government remain open and active,\u201d he revealed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Andrabi assured the media of the government\u2019s \u201cfull attention and concern regarding this emergency situation\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pakistan\u2019s tensions with Afghanistan also came up during the press briefing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Andrabi was asked about the European Union\u2019s (EU) top diplomat Kaja Kallas noting<\/a> the \u201cgrave humanitarian consequences\u201d of the recent fighting between the two neighbours and urging them to exercise restraint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The FO spokesperson replied: \u201cNo responsible state can remain passive when its civilians and security forces are repeatedly targeted. Therefore, we reserve the right to take all necessary measures to safeguard the lives and property of our nationals, based on the principles of necessity and as a measure of last resort.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He stressed that Pakistan adhered to the principles of distinction and proportionality and that any \u201cdefensive action\u201d was directed against \u201clegitimate targets under international law, including sanctuaries and bases used for planning terrorism and launching terrorist attacks against Pakistan\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The FO spokesperson further stated, \u201cWe will continue to take such actions when necessary, and this remains part of our dialogue with our international interlocutors.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Responding to another question before this, Andrabi had asserted that the EU understood Islamabad\u2019s position, including \u201cour right to defend ourselves and take action against terrorist incidents, particularly those emanating from Afghanistan\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Andrabi then referred to the joint statement<\/a> issued on Kallas\u2019s visit, which said both sides \u201creaffirmed the importance of combatting terrorism in all its forms and manifestations\u201d. Both sides had also \u201cexpressed serious concerns over the presence of terrorist entities in Afghanistan and reiterated that Afghan territory must not be used to threaten or attack other countries\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Replying to another question, the FO official affirmed that there was \u201cno bar on Pakistan pursuing dialogue and diplomacy with Afghanistan\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIndeed, this is what we were doing until very recently, when terrorist attacks emanating from Afghanistan, with possible collusion from elements within the authorities there, surpassed a certain threshold of Pakistan\u2019s patience. As a result, there were instances of border closures, and we also took certain actions in our border regions,\u201d he recalled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Expressing Pakistan\u2019s desire to pursue the path of diplomacy but also voicing its strong objection to the killing of Pakistani civilians and members of law enforcement agencies, Andrabi said: \u201cWe have adopted a position whereby we seek an unequivocal commitment from the Afghan side that its territory will not be used for terrorism against Pakistan.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The FO spokesperson said China\u2019s Special Representative on Afghanistan Ambassador Yue Xiaoyong \u201cheld productive discussions on regional security\u201d during his visit to Islamabad<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPakistan and China agreed to strengthen coordination and synchronise their counterterrorism efforts in order to protect regional peace and security,\u201d he said, adding that Islamabad appreciated Beijing\u2019s constructive role on security issues in general.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the recent military cooperation agreement signed<\/a> between Russia and Afghanistan, Andrabi responded, \u201cThe details are still being ascertained. At this stage, it would be premature to offer any comment on the matter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, the FO also denounced India\u2019s plans to build a river-linking project to divert water from Chenab to the Beas river as a \u201cgrave violation\u201d of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) and other international laws.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Chenab forms<\/a> at the confluence of the Chandra and Bhaga rivers in Lahaul and Spiti, Himachal Pradesh. The IWT, brokered by the World Bank in 1960, allocates the three western rivers \u2014 Indus, Jhelum and Chenab \u2014 to Pakistan, and the three eastern rivers \u2014 Ravi, Beas and Sutlej \u2014 to India.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Indian news outlet CNBC TV18<\/em><\/a>, India will begin work on the proposed \u201cLink-3 Project\u201d, located on Chenab in Himachal Pradesh, on August 1. The project aims to divert surplus water from the Chenab river to the Beas basin and is estimated to cost 26.2 billion Indian rupees, as per ANI<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Responding to a query, Andrabi said, \u201cYes, we have seen this report as well as the public tendered document issued by the government of India that India has invited bids for the Chenab-Beas Link Tunnel project with the intention of transferring 1.9m acre feet of water annually from Chenab into the Beas system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSuch an inter-basin diversion of water of the Chenab into the Beas system constitutes a grave violation of not just the IWT but also of the laws of treaty, particularly the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties<\/a>, as well as the broader framework of international water law, including the principles reflected in the 1977 UN convention<\/a> on watercourses,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The FO spokesperson also highlighted India\u2019s planned \u201csilt flushing\u201d of the Salal Dam in occupied Kashmir\u2019s Reasi district.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis is a deeply concerning development. It would provide water control capability that is not permissible under either the Indus Waters Treaty or the 1978 Salal agreement,\u201d he pointed out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Andrabi noted that India had neither officially communicated nor shared any notice of these projects nor has it sought consultations in this regard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThese projects confirm that India seeks to weaponise water. This carries dangerous implications not only for Pakistan\u2019s economy but also for regional stability and international peace and security,\u201d he stressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emphasising that Pakistan had \u201cexercised restraint and responsibility\u201d and remained committed to dialogue, Andrabi warned, \u201cHowever, any illegal action, any illegal measure to endanger Pakistan\u2019s water, food and economic security, as well as the survival and well-being of its 250 million people, is unacceptable.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He stated that such actions amount to \u201cfurther destabilisation of South Asia, with potential grave consequences\u201d for the entire region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUnder IWT, Pakistan is entitled to receive the unrestricted use of the water of the western rivers, and this is in lieu of the rights of the eastern rivers that were given to India,\u201d Andrabi noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The FO spokesperson asserted that Pakistan \u201cretains all options necessary for safeguarding rights and entitlements under the treaty and to protect its vital national interests\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLet me emphasise, we retain all options in this regard,\u201d he reiterated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The FO urged the international community to call upon India to \u201cdesist from any form of water coercion, abandon projects that seek to stop, reduce or divert water flow legally belonging to Pakistan, and restore full and faithful implementation of the IWT\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Web desk(National Times)-The Foreign Office (FO) on Thursday refuted reports that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar shared any intelligence regarding Iran\u2019s nuclear programme during a meeting with United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Dar met with Rubio on May 29 during a brief visit to Washington, where the two discussed bilateral cooperation as […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":127005,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-127004","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest_news","entry"],"yoast_head":"\n<\/a>\u2018Actively engaged\u2019 to secure release of seamen held by Somali pirates<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>\u2018No responsible state can remain passive\u2019: FO on Afghanistan<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>India\u2019s plans to divert Chenab water<\/h2>\n\n\n\n