ISLAMABAD, Jan 16 (Alliance News) – Pakistan has firmly rejected reports of any intentions to annex the Wakhan Corridor, reaffirming that the region is part of Afghanistan, and reasserted its commitment to Afghanistan’s sovereignty.
In his first weekly press briefing as the Foreign Office spokesperson, Shafqat Ali Khan categorically denied the speculations, calling them “erroneous” and stressing that Pakistan recognizes Afghanistan’s territorial integrity.
“I have seen this endless speculation. Wakhan is part of Afghan territory. Afghanistan is a neighboring country.
We recognize its sovereignty and territorial integrity. There is no question of Pakistan having designs on one of its neighbors,” Shafqat Ali Khan said.
He added that while both countries understood the importance of maintaining good relations, the key concern remained the presence of terrorist sanctuaries across the border in Afghanistan.
He indicated ongoing engagement between Pakistan and Afghanistan to address these concerns.
In his briefing, Khan also welcomed the ceasefire in Gaza reached on Wednesday and urged for its full and immediate implementation.
He expressed hope that the truce would serve as a stepping stone towards a permanent ceasefire and facilitate the scaling up of humanitarian aid to the region.
He condemned the actions of Israeli forces, stating that their “indiscriminate use of force” had resulted in a devastating loss of life, displacement of civilians, and regional instability.
Pakistan continues to support a just, comprehensive, and lasting resolution to the Palestinian issue.
Khan further expressed deep concern over the recent rise in racist and Islamophobic rhetoric in the UK, which he said wrongly conflates the actions of a few individuals with the entire Pakistani diaspora.
He strongly rejected statements made by Indian officials regarding Jammu and Kashmir, reiterating that the region remains internationally recognized as disputed territory, with its final status to be determined according to UN resolutions and the will of the Kashmiri people.
The spokesperson also highlighted the successful conclusion of the international conference on girls’ education in Islamabad, which saw high-level participation, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and OIC officials. The conference underscored girls’ education as a fundamental right and a critical element of global peace and development.
On Pakistan-China relations, Khan referred to the Fourth Round of Pakistan-China Bilateral Political Consultations and the Fifth meeting of the CPEC Joint Working Group on International Cooperation.
He mentioned the positive trajectory of relations between the two countries and reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening their strategic cooperation.
Responding to a question about Gaza, Khan assured that Pakistan would send more humanitarian convoys once the ceasefire is implemented, following an initial delivery of aid.
He also confirmed that Pakistan’s ambassador in Washington would attend the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump, though the reported invitation to PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto was not processed through the foreign ministry.