Tahir Hussain Andrabi Likely to Be Appointed as Foreign Office Spokesperson

Islamabad:Senior diplomat Tahir Hussain Andrabi is likely to be appointed as the new spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, according to official sources.

Sources said that Andrabi, who is currently serving as Additional Foreign Secretary, is being considered to replace Shafqat Ali Khan, who has recently been appointed as Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates.

Ambassador Andrabi is a seasoned career diplomat with extensive experience in Pakistan’s Foreign Service. He has previously served as Pakistan’s Ambassador to Tunisia and has held important diplomatic assignments in Geneva and other key capitals.

His appointment as spokesperson, insiders believe, is aimed at strengthening the Ministry’s media outreach and public diplomacy efforts. A formal notification in this regard is expected soon.

On the other hand, Pakistan has called on the Afghan government to take action against terrorist groups operating from its territory, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), said Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan.

During a weekly briefing, the spokesperson said Pakistan has repeatedly raised the issue of cross-border terrorism with Afghan authorities. He emphasized that while Pakistan respects Afghanistan’s sovereignty, it expects Afghan soil not to be used for attacks against Pakistan.

Shafqat Ali Khan also condemned the recent Israeli attack on the Global Sumud Flotilla. He confirmed that former Senator Mushtaq Ahmed has been released from Israeli custody and praised Qatar, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia for helping secure a ceasefire agreement.

The spokesperson added that Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar recently spoke with his Iranian counterpart to discuss ways to improve bilateral relations. In a separate call, Dar also contacted his Saudi counterpart to talk about the situation in Gaza, Hamas’ response, and regional peace efforts.

Regarding a Saudi delegation’s visit to Pakistan, the Foreign Office said that Saudi-Pakistan Joint Business Council Chairman Prince Mansour bin Mohammad Al Saud arrived in Islamabad with a large delegation. The talks focused on trade, investment, and supporting Pakistan’s economic development.