News
May 15, 2026
Pakistan Terms Indian Politician’s Call for Dialogue a ‘Positive Development’
Islamabad: Pakistan’s foreign office spokesperson on Thursday welcomed a recent statement by an Indian politician who called for dialogue with Islamabad, hoping that New Delhi’s “warmongering” would fade and create more space for similar voices calling for peace.
Dattatreya Hosabale, secretary-general of India’s Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the far-right ideological mentor of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in India, said there should always be “a window for dialogue with Pakistan.”
Political tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors remain high since they fought a brief but fierce war in May last year. The two countries pounded each other with fighter jets, missiles, drones and artillery before agreeing to a ceasefire on May 10. New Delhi and Islamabad frequently blame each other for supporting militant attacks on each other’s soil.
“The voices within India calling for dialogue are obviously a positive development,” foreign office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi told reporters during a weekly press briefing.
“We hope sanity will prevail in India and the warmongering, the belligerence that emanates, that has been emanating for the past several months and even beyond for the past year or more, this will fade away and pave the way for more such voices to come up.”
Andrabi said Islamabad looks forward to an “efficient reaction” to such voices.
When asked about Indian media reports claiming India and Pakistan have established back-channel contacts recently, Andrabi said he was not aware of any such development.
“I do not wish to comment on those. And if I were to comment on it, there would be no back-channel,” the spokesperson said.
“Back-channel or track two, I mean, the name is self-explanatory.”
Peace Process ‘Intact’
Andrabi welcomed US President Donald Trump’s visit to China, describing it as important for peace and security.
“We are supportive of their engagement, their cooperation on all global matters, particularly with respect to matters of peace and security,” he said.
“So, this is a very welcome visit, and we wish the two sides very productive deliberations.”
About Islamabad’s mediation between the US and Iran, the spokesperson said Pakistan believes sincere dialogue is essential to advancing peace, security and shared prosperity in the region.
“Yes, the peace process is intact,” he said. “It is holding on. We remain engaged. We remain hopeful.”
Pakistan has mediated between Washington and Tehran ever since the US and Israel launched strikes against Tehran in February.
Islamabad hosted the first round of talks in April between the US and Iran and helped broker a ceasefire between the two sides.
However, a second round of talks did not take place between both sides. Iran continues blocking the Strait of Hormuz passageway while the US has also imposed a naval blockade of Iranian ports.
Andrabi said injecting momentum into the peace process is primarily the prerogative of the two principal interlocutors.
“Pakistan and its partners remain engaged,” he said.
In response to a question about Pakistani crew members of a ship being held by Somali pirates, Andrabi said they were safe.
The MT Honour 25, a Palau-flagged product tanker, was seized on April 21 approximately 30 nautical miles off Somalia’s Puntland region with 17 crew members aboard, 10 of them Pakistani.
Andrabi said a two-member team from Pakistan’s embassy in Djibouti went to Somalia and held meetings at the Somali foreign and defense ministries and at the Somali Naval Authority.
“We were told, first of all, that our individuals, the Pakistani nationals and crew members are safe,” he said.
“Secondly, we were told that the pilots are negotiating directly with the ship owner.”
Andrabi said the ship owner is in touch with Somali authorities about these negotiations.
“We feel for the safety of our people, we are very keen for their quick repatriation,” he said. “We are in touch with the Somali authorities.” - Arab News
Courtesy Arab News
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