Afghan Transit Trade to remain shut until border situation improves: FO

Spokesperson says national security and protection of Pakistani citizens are more important than any trade activity

The Foreign Office has clarified that the Afghan Transit Trade remains closed and will stay shut until there is a significant improvement in the security situation along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Speaking at the weekly press briefing, FO spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said the decision was prompted by recent armed attacks launched from across the border that claimed Pakistani lives.

“We feel for the hardships faced by traders and businessmen. Ordinary people are also affected because of non-availability of commodities,” Andrabi said. “But at the border points with Afghan Transit Trade, armed attacks were carried out against Pakistan, killing Pakistanis. This pains us gravely. For us, the lives of Pakistanis are more important than any commodity traded.”

The spokesperson emphasised that national security and the protection of Pakistani citizens are more important than any trade-related concerns. “We have to have a very clear priority on Afghan Transit Trade and our security. Pakistani lives and our security matter the most,” he stated.

Andrabi appreciated the constructive role of Qatar and Turkiye in mediating recent discussions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, describing them as a “first step towards ensuring regional peace and stability.” He said the talks focused on immediate measures to end cross-border terrorism emanating from Afghanistan and to restore peace along the border.

The FO spokesperson added that Pakistan looks forward to establishing a “concrete and verifiable monitoring mechanism” during the next round of talks, scheduled to be hosted by Turkiye in Istanbul on October 25, 2025, aimed at curbing terrorist activities from Afghan soil.

“As a responsible state, committed to regional peace and stability, Pakistan does not seek escalation,” Andrabi said, urging the Afghan Taliban authorities to honour their international commitments and take verifiable action against terrorist groups, including the TTP/FAK and BLA/FAH.

Pakistan condemns Israel’s West Bank annexation plan

The FO also strongly condemned Israel’s attempt to extend its so-called “sovereignty” over parts of the occupied West Bank, including illegal Israeli settlements, through a draft law introduced in the Israeli legislature.

Andrabi termed the move a “flagrant violation of international law and UN resolutions”, reaffirming Pakistan’s unwavering support for the Palestinian cause. “We also reaffirm our unwavering support for the Palestinian cause, including the establishment of an independent, sovereign, viable, and contiguous State of Palestine based on pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital,” he stated.

Pakistan reiterated its commitment to working with regional and international partners to uphold the right of self-determination of the Palestinian people and to ensure peace, justice, and dignity in the region.

Transcript of the Weekly Press Briefing by the Spokesperson, Friday October 24,2025 https://t.co/9tsABLEtYm pic.twitter.com/v0Oae5XApy

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During the briefing, Andrabi also shared details of the visit of Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister to Pakistan.

The Polish DPM expressed his country’s keen interest in expanding cooperation with Pakistan in various sectors, noting that Polish investment in Pakistan’s petrochemical industry currently exceeds $500 million. He also suggested collaboration in water treatment technologies and lauded Pakistan’s efforts in promoting regional peace and stability.

The Polish deputy prime minister called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who highlighted the decades-long cordial relations between the two nations. The PM praised Poland’s industrial advancement and expressed Pakistan’s desire to further strengthen cooperation in trade, energy, defence, education, labour, and other fields of mutual interest.

Both sides also discussed regional and international developments, including peace efforts in the Middle East and Ukraine. The PM reiterated Pakistan’s stance on the peaceful resolution of disputes, including Kashmir, through dialogue, diplomacy, and relevant UN resolutions, reaffirming Islamabad’s commitment to international law and humanitarian principles.