Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said on Thursday that Islamabad was hopeful about and would expect an agreement between the US and Iran “sooner rather than later”.

He said this during a weekly briefing, where he was asked how soon could the agreement be expected.

“You have asked us how soon we can expect an agreement. We remain optimistic. A simple answer would be that we expect an agreement sooner rather than later. We hope that the parties will come to a peaceful, sustainable solution and bring peace, not just to our region but internationally as well,” he said.

In this regard, Andrabi also said Pakistan would welcome a settlement between Iran and the US wherever it may be reached.

“If an agreement is reached in Pakistan, it would be an honour for us,” he said.

The FO spokesperson also said he could not say whether the draft of the agreement would be one page or longer.

Asked whether the US government could be under pressure to end the war due to the upcoming mid-term elections, Andrabi said: “We want a peaceful settlement, a peaceful solution, irrespective of what the causes are or and how the countries are compelled to reach a diplomatic solution. So, I think let’s not focus on the causes but focus on the effect. And the effect should be that there is peace, there is a peaceful settlement – we hope for that effect to take place.”

Andrabi’s remarks came after the US and Iran see­med to inch toward a peace deal on Wednesday. There were reports that Tehran was reviewing a fresh proposal from Washington for a peace following the suspension of ‘Project Freedom’ launc­hed by the US to open the Strait of Hormuz.

The FO spokesperson recalled in his weekly briefing the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had welcomed the “timely announcement” regarding the pause in ‘Project Freedom’ and noted that Pakistan remained firmly committed to supporting all efforts that promoted restraint and the peaceful resolution of conflict between the US and Iran through dialogue and diplomacy.

He added that PM had also expressed the hope that the “current momentum” would lead to a lasting agreement that would secure durable peace and stability for the region and beyond.

Andrabi further stated that “working with the same spirit of optimism and positive engagement”, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar had remained in contact with his counterparts throughout the last week in an effort to pursue peace, diplomacy and a peaceful settlement between Washington and Tehran.

The latest episode of hostilities between the two sides began with more than two months ago when the US and Israel launched strikes in Iran on February 28.

While a deal for a complete end to the war is yet to happen, the hostilities have been largely ceased since a the two sides agreed on a Pakistan-brokered ceasefire on April 8.

Following the ceasefire, a first round of historic direct US-Iran talks was held in Islamabad on April 11 and 12, with Pakistan playing the role of a mediator. The talks had ended without an agreement, but also without a breakdown.

With challenges in convening a second round, Islamabad has shifted back to its role as a facilitator and go-between.

But, there were some positive signals on Wednesday, with Trump saying he had had “very good talks” with Iran over the past 24 hours. Meanwhile, Tehran appeared receptive to the fresh US proposal to end the war, saying that it was reviewing the agreement and a response would be relayed to Washington via Islamabad.

US news outlet Axios also claimed that Washington and Tehran were close to agreeing on a one-page memorandum of understanding to end the war and “set a framework for more detailed nuclear negotiations”.

Among main issues that remain a sticking point between the two sides are unrestricted navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and Washington’s demand for long-term commitments on Iran’s nuclear programme, including constraints on enrichment and safeguards against weaponisation.

Marka-i-Haq

The FO spokesperson began the briefing by noting that it had been a year since Marka-i-Haq, “a defining moment in our national journey”.

Last year’s military conflict with India, starting from the April 22 Pahalgam attack to the end of Pakistan’s Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, with a ceasefire ending a military escalation between the two countries on May 10, has been called “Marka-i-Haq” (Battle of Truth) by the state.

Andrabi said the anniversary of the conflict was “not only about remembering the past; it is about shaping the future because – the spirit of Marka-i-Haq lives not just in our history, but in each of us”. 

He said Pakistan’s response under Operation Bunyanum Marsoos after Indian attacks was measured, lawful, and in line with the UN Charter.

Referring to a briefing by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to diplomatic corps, he said, “I can tell you is that the peace and security in South Asia remains a concern for our international partners. The belligerent statements that emanate from New Delhi are a cause of concern.”

The FO spokesperson said Marka-i-Haq’s first anniversary was an occasion to “reinforce the national resolve that sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence of the country would be defended with all means possible and with full resolve”.

“That message has resonated across our international partners. The belligerence emanating from our neighbour is not appreciated in any international capital,” he said, adding that Pakistan’s advocacy for diplomacy and dialogue was “appreciated all along”. 

Answering another question, he said Pakistan had always supported dialogue and diplomacy, but “if an aggression, which took place exactly a year ago, is imposed on us, Pakistan will respond, and will respond with full strength and all means available”.

“This fact is amply clear, to our adversary in our neighbourhood as well.”

He also said Pakistan could not be blamed for no dialogue with India since the May 10 ceasefire.

“We have, on a number of occasions, expressed our opinion, our readiness for dialogue. But of course, it takes two to have a dialogue. Even a dialogue has to be meaningful; it has to be a dialogue and not a monologue.

“So, whilst we would not like to be seen to be asking for a dialogue, we have never shied away from holding one. As to who is responsible for no dialogue is for everybody to judge,” he said.

The FO spokesperson further stated that Pakistan had been keeping a “close watch” on the Indian arms buildup and force modernisation.

“Pakistan will ensure that our credible minimum deterrence is maintained. We are mindful of the impact of India’s force modernisation on strategic stability in South Asia. I can assure you that our military preparedness and our own defence acquisitions would be sufficient to maintain our robust defence … [and] our credible minimum deterrence with respect to India,” he said.

Answering another question, he said, “I can assure you that we are engaged with all our partners with respect to our relation in the area of defence. No diplomatic move by India can offset these relations, which have a trajectory and an institutional strength of their own.”

To a query about the unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, Andrabi said, “Pakistan reserves the right of exploring all legal political mechanisms enshrined in the treaty and under international law, to claim our right on the waters of the Indus aasin system. We will explore all options, and of course, they remain on the table.

“Some of these options are under way in the context of the proceedings by the Indus Water commissioners. So, all options are on the table.”

He said Pakistan was also monitoring “how far the treaty was being implemented or violated, in favour of river flows, the patterns, the amount of water coming in, the variations (in the flow)”.

“Everything is being documented. So, this is an issue on which there is a complete focus, not just of our ministry, but of our Indus Water commissioners and all relevant government institutions. I can assure you that all efforts will be made and are being made, that not a drop of water is stolen from Pakistan from what is our right,” he said.

Repatriations from Cambodia

During today’s briefing, the FO spokesperson also addressed the detention of 54 Pakistanis in Cambodia following a raid on a scamming compound.

Earlier, it was reported that more than 200 Pakistanis were in the custody of Cambodian police in overcrowded facilities and facing a lack of basic facilities.

Andrabi said emergency travel documents had been issued to the detained individuals after ascertaining their nationalities.

“On our embassy’s request, the host authorities allowed all 54 individuals to travel back to Pakistan. And as of today, I understand 49 individuals have returned and three are being are processed. And I understand this complete repatriation will take place soon,” he added.

He also said that 85 Pakistanis had been detained in Kampala, Uganda on April 27 by immigration authorities for “engaging in unauthorised employment while on visit visas”.

“It was established that these individuals had been working for approximately four months with unregistered online companies,” he said, adding that sentences awarded to the detainees had been waived following the Pakistan embassy’s intervention.

But a fine of $400 had been imposed on each of those individuals for violation of visa conditions, Andrabi added.

He said all 85 of those individuals had been repatriated to Pakistan.

Reports of deportation from UAE

The FO spokesperson was also asked about the “unusually high number” of emergency exit documents (ETD) or outpasses being issued by the Pakistani consulate in the United Arab Emirates.

To that, Andrabi replied: “Yes, these ETDs were issued, mainly driven by administrative actions, including immigration status violation and other legal infractions. The Consulate General in Dubai, for example, I can tell you, issued around 2,714 emergency travel documents, while the embassy in Abu Dhabi issued 780 of those, between January to April 2026.

“So this was the four-month record. I can further tell that deportation basically prompted by a royal court pardon on Eid enabled the release and repatriation of jailed individuals. So this (deportation) took place as a result of our royal pardon to some of these individuals who were held in prison.”

When asked to confirm whether the Pakistani authorities had made inquiries to the Emirati officials and law enforcement agencies about those reports of expulsions, he said: “Our embassy is in touch with the UAE authorities. Our mission has also ensured that in the wake of the hostilities in the Gulf region, and in the wake of very serious armed attacks against the UAE, which we have condemned, our community fully complies with the local laws, with the local instructions.”

He said the Pakistani community, by and large, except for maybe one or two few sporadic cases, had been cooperating with the local authorities in the UAE.

“So, I think this is what the status is. The Ministry of Interior and relevant departments are also seized of this matter (repatriation). This matter is proceeding as per law. I do not see any political reason for their deportation. These are primarily legal cases, which are being taken care of, both by our diplomatic missions in UAE as well as by the UAE authorities.”

Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said on Thursday that Pakistan remained actively engaged with Iran and the United States to “achieve a resolution” of the conflict between the two sides.

“As such, the status of talks now is that we remain actively engaged with both sides to achieve a resolution of this issue. The clock on diplomacy has not stopped. We remain hopeful of a negotiated settlement of this issue, and we will continue our sincere efforts for the cause of peace and prosperity in the region and beyond,” he said during a weekly FO briefing.

The conflict, which is now almost two months old, began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. And while hostilities have paused following a Pakistan-brokered two-week ceasefire on April 8 — which has now been extended indefinitely by US President Donald Trump — the world continues to face its consequences.

It has led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas supply used to pass in peacetime, resulting in a global energy crisis.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s civil and military leadership has been engaged in feverish diplomacy, leading the efforts for de-escalation.

When the Andrabi was asked about the matter, he recalled that talks between the US and Iran had begun after Pakistan called for a ceasefire.

“The ceasefire basically opened a window for substantive diplomacy, including dialogue between the two sides. We need to acknowledge and underscore the importance of the ceasefire by both parties … Many lives were saved. Damage to infrastructure was averted. So, this paved the way for the talks,” he added, recalling the talks held between the US and Iranian delegations in Islamabad on April 11 and 12.

The negotiations had ended without an agreement, but also without a breakdown.

Andrabi noted that after those talks, “the diplomatic exchanges, channels of communications, remained open. The process of facilitation of talks continued”.

“As such, the status of talks now is that we remain actively engaged with both sides to achieve a resolution of this issue. The clock on diplomacy has not stopped. We remain hopeful of a negotiated settlement of this issue, and we will continue our sincere efforts for the cause of peace and prosperity in the region and beyond,” he added.

The FO spokesperson also referred to the recent visits by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to Pakistan, saying that he held important discussions in both legs of his visit – before leaving for Oman and then returning from Oman.

“So, the status is that the clock on diplomacy is ticking, functioning, and ongoing.”

In response to a question about whether Pakistan had presented new proposals for conflict resolution to both sides, Andrabi said: “I’ll not talk on any specifics, but I can say that the proposals, old, new, not so new, not so old, are on the table. We understand that the main interlocutors, the parties to the conflict, are deliberating on these issues, in depth i.e. internal deliberations.

“There was an internal meeting in the US on this earlier part of the weekend. News reports came out of it. I believe similar consultations are taking place in Tehran, also within Iran. We hope that peace will prevail. We hope for stable relations between Iran and the United States.”

Answering another question about reports of a new proposal, he said, “Pakistan is actively engaged with both sides to achieve resolution of this issue. The facilitation process is ongoing. Obviously, the momentum is generated as and when required by the relevant parties, when we receive a proposal or a counterproposal. So, let me assure you – our diplomacy and our peace efforts are continuing.”

In response to another query on the matter, he said, “I do not speak on specifics. There was talk of an x number of proposals from Iran and then an x number of proposals from the US. We did not discuss any such proposal in the spirit of trust that is reposed on us by both parties to uphold the confidentiality and secrecy.

“It is important that we maintain that confidentiality. I’m not aware of what new proposal are you referring to, but I can assure you that anything that passes through the conduit of diplomatic channels in Pakistan is faithfully communicated to the other side.”

The FO spokesperson also mentioned that, earlier in the briefing, he had referred to at least three telephone conversations of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

“More than five telephone conversations of Foreign Minister Araghchi, with our Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar have taken place in the last fortnight. This is in addition to the visits of the foreign minister of Iran to Islamabad. So, the proposals, new and old are all on the table,” he added.

Asked about Trump’s statement that negotiations with Iran would now continue over the phone to avoid long-distance travel, he said Pakistan would welcome that development.

“In a sense, if the two parties can engage in real-time direct conversation that could ease the sticking points, this would be a positive development”, he said, adding that Pakistan’s role of facilitation would continue. “We would welcome direct negotiations in a way that helps settle the situation. We would not resent such kind of a direct telephone exchange. In fact, we very much encourage that.”

Hijacking in Somalia

He also said that Pakistan was in contact with the Somali government over the hostage crisis involving Pakistani sailors aboard a hijacked oil tanker.

Last week, armed pirates hijacked the oil tanker near the Somali coast and took 11 Pakistani crew members and the Indonesian captain of the vessel hostage.

“The oil tanker, name Honor 25 was hijacked by the pirates near the southeast coast of Somalia on April 21. This vessel was carrying oil to the Somali region, the region called Puntland. It had 17 crew members, including 10 Pakistanis.

“Our Embassy in Djibouti, which is accredited to Somalia, approached the authorities in Somalia, including their foreign office, and we learned that the vessel was anchored in the coast of EYL in the Puntland region,” Andrabi detailed.

He further stated that the Puntland region was a semi-autonomous part of Somalia.

“We consider it as part of the brotherly nation of Somalia. MT Honor 25, we understand, is owned by a businessman who is based in Puntland. So, I think the positive side of this story or the silver lining is that the ship is where it belongs to,” he said.

Andrabi added that the Somalian foreign ministry had been very cooperative on the matter and “they have sent us in writing that they are closely monitoring the situation, and they have assured us that any update or information received regarding the status of the vessels and safety of the crew member will be shared”.

“They are trying their best to ensure that the safety and well-being of our detained Pakistanis and all crew members are taken care of. They are in touch with the pirates and authorities in the Puntland region.

“Based on this discussion with the Somali Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we have fair reason to believe that our crew members are safe and secure, and the pirates and the owner of the ship, who is a local person, are in contact.”

He also noted that piracy in the region has continued for “quite a while”.

“There is an information centre called the JMIC, which is an information centre of the coalition of countries which are conducting anti-piracy operations. These are the coalition of the naval forces. The Pakistan Navy has also participated in some of the counter narcotics action, maybe in some anti-piracy actions as well, under the Combined Task Force 150 and Combined Task Force 151 – coalition of naval forces. In fact, the Pakistan Navy has, at time, commanded CTF 150 but CTF 150 mandate, I understand, is more towards counter narcotics than counter piracy,” he said.

The FO spokesperson added that the Pakistani embassy “is maintaining close liaison with the authorities and international stakeholders, and is closely monitoring developments in the region. Our two priorities are safety of Pakistani nationals and their well-being and ensuring their safe and early return and repatriation”.

Hijackings off Somalia have fuelled concerns about a resurgence of Indian Ocean raids by opportunistic pirates. Pirate attacks off the Somali coast peaked in 2011 — with gunmen launching attacks as far as 3,655km from the Somali coast.

Repatriations from Cambodia

In an earlier statement, the FO had said Cambodian authorities agreed on the early repatriation of 54 Pakistanis arrested following the raid on a “scamming compound”.

The statement had come after reports emerged that more than 200 Pakistanis were in the custody of Cambodian police in overcrowded facilities and facing a lack of basic facilities.

“As a result of the embassy’s efforts, the host authorities have agreed to the early repatriation of 54 Pakistani nationals detained in Siem Reap province. These individuals were arrested following a raid on a scamming compound,” it had said.

On Thursday, Andrabi said following a raid on a “scamming compound” in Cambodia, the total number of Pakistani nationals detained in the country has risen to 84, including 76 men and eight women.

He added that “all Pakistani citizens are safe and that Cambodian authorities have assured full cooperation. The Pakistani Embassy has been granted consular access to the detainees”.

“Deputy Head of Mission Bilal Mohsin met the detained Pakistanis, and the Cambodian authorities are providing them with food and medical facilities,” added the FO spokesperson.

He said most of the Pakistanis had travelled to Cambodia after being lured by fake job offers. Some were found working illegally after entering on tourist visas, while others had overstayed their permitted duration.

The spokesperson added that Cambodian authorities are considering waiving fines and that the return of Pakistani nationals is expected after the completion of legal proceedings, while urging citizens to remain cautious of “fraudulent” overseas job schemes.