ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has declared its readiness to counter any potential Indian military action, according to Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi. During a weekly briefing, Andrabi addressed reporters, emphasizing the nation’s robust defense capabilities in response to inquiries about the potential threat of an Indian move to annex Azad Kashmir.

Andrabi also discussed the ongoing suspension of Afghan transit trade, affirming that it will remain shut down until a comprehensive evaluation of the security situation is completed. He cited continuous assaults on trading points from the Afghan side, which have resulted in civilian casualties, as the primary reason for the closure. Andrabi stressed that the safety of Pakistani citizens takes precedence over trade considerations.

The spokesperson urged the Afghan interim authorities to prevent their territory from being used to support terrorism in Pakistan. He highlighted that the initial optimism following the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan has been dampened by attacks from the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other armed groups using Afghan soil.

Andrabi conveyed a message to Afghan authorities, urging them to halt these attacks and apprehend the responsible criminals and extremist groups. He emphasized that Pakistan’s demands are not excessive, pointing to the commitments made under the Doha Agreement.

In response to a question about the Sharm el-Sheikh accord, Andrabi emphasized the need for converting it into a lasting peace process aimed at establishing a Palestinian state with al-Quds al-Sharif as its capital.