Islamabad (Pakistan News): The Foreign Office has said that Israel's expansionist policies are the root cause of ongoing crises in the Middle East, with their effects extending beyond Palestine to Syria, Lebanon and other neighbouring countries.
Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan said that the Mecca Alliance had not been established against any country; rather, its objective was to promote peace and stability in the region.
He said that regardless of which political party was in power in the United States, Pakistan had always maintained good relations with Washington. Pakistan would continue cooperating with the US government in all sectors, including trade, investment, security and counterterrorism measures.
The spokesperson clarified that Pakistan had not imposed any restrictions on issuing visas to Indian citizens. If Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann wishes to visit Pakistan, there will be no obstacle to granting him a visa.
According to him, more than 9,000 Indian Sikh pilgrims were issued visas to visit Pakistan last year, while over 4,000 Sikh pilgrims have also been granted visas during the current year.
The Foreign Office spokesperson stated that India had suspended the movement of pilgrims through the Kartarpur Corridor since May 2025. Pakistan is ready to welcome Sikh pilgrims and provide them with every possible facility as soon as Indian restrictions are lifted.
He said that Pakistan had established the Kartarpur Corridor despite the suspension of the dialogue process between the two countries. Billions of rupees were spent on the project to ensure that the Sikh community could access its sacred site and enjoy all necessary travel facilities.
According to the spokesperson, Pakistan has received an invitation to participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting scheduled to be held in New Delhi from November 20 to 22. The country's leadership will make a final decision regarding participation after institutional consultations.