PM briefs parliamentary leaders on regional tensions, Pakistan’s foreign policy stance

Parliamentary leaders and representatives emphasised the need for national unity, consensus and solidarity amid the current situation facing the country and the wider region with tensions high, state-run Radio Pakistan reported.

A high-level meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, was held in Islamabad today to discuss current geopolitical tensions in the region, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a statement.

According to the statement, the prime minister briefed the leaders on the evolving situation in Pakistan and Afghanistan, as well as the recent regional tensions, particularly in the Middle East and the Gulf. 

The meeting included a detailed briefing to ensure parliamentary leaders weare fully informed of the country’s foreign policy approach and regional security stance, said the PMO.

“A detailed briefing was also given to the parliamentary leaders in the meeting, highlighting Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts during the recent tensions. The parliamentary leaders of the political parties expressed their views openly. The participants emphasised the need for national unity, consensus and solidarity in the current situation,” Radio Pakistan reported.

It added that the participants appreciated Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts for peace in the region, stressed the need to ramp up diplomatic efforts and also presented suggestions on the future course of action.

“All the participants reiterated their strong commitment to eradicate terrorism from the country. The participants appreciated and thanked the prime minister for taking all political leadership into confidence in the larger interest of Pakistan,” the report added.

Key attendees included Senate Chairman Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Deputy Senate Chairman Syedaal Khan, Deputy National Assembly Speaker Ghulam Mustafa Shah, Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Pakistan Peoples Party Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, JUI-F President Maulana Fazlur Rehman, federal ministers, party leaders, and other parliamentary representatives from across the country.

The PMO highlighted that the inclusive meeting aimed to maintain transparency with all political stakeholders regarding Pakistan’s foreign policy and security measures amid regional tensions.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf skipped the meeting.

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Pakistan and Afghanistan have clashed along the frontier since last week, when Afghanistan launched a border offensive in response to Pakistani air strikes. ‘Operation Ghazab Lil Haq’ was launched late on Thursday after renewed clashes along the border, when Afghan Taliban forces fired on multiple locations, prompting swift military retaliation.

Islamabad accuses Afghanistan of failing to act against terrorist groups that carry out attacks in Pakistan, which the Taliban government rejects. The border fighting has hit multiple Afghan provinces. The violence of recent days is the worst since the October fighting killed more than 70 people on both sides, with land borders between the neighbours largely shut since.

The meeting also discussed the escalation of conflict in the Gulf after the US and Israel continued their military strikes on Iran, following a joint operation on Saturday that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several high-ranking officials. Iran said schools and hospitals have also been targeted, killing hundreds of civilians.

In the opening wave of attacks, about 163 girls were killed when a school in southern Iran was struck.

Tehran responded by targeting Israel, as well as American military assets across the region, disrupting commercial travel, disrupting oil routes, and sending global energy prices higher.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it struck more than 500 US and Israeli locations using 700 drones along with hundreds of missiles.