Army top brass condemns attacks on Saudi facilities, warns of serious repercussions

The military leadership on Tuesday strongly condemned the recent Iranian attacks on Saudi Arabia’s petrochemical and industrial complexes, terming them an “unnecessary escalation” that threatened to spoil mediation efforts to bring the Mideast crisis to an end.

Iran earlier attacked ​a petrochemical ​complex in Saudi ⁠Arabia’s Jubail ​industrial city, ​located in the eastern province. The Foreign Office expressed “its deep concern and unequivocal condemnation” of the missile and drone attacks.

In a statement issued today, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the army’s top brass also condemned the attacks in the 274th Corps Commanders’ Conference (CCC) at General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.

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“The forum noted with concern and vehemently condemned latest attacks on KSA’s petrochemical and industrial complex as an unnecessary escalation which spoils sincere efforts to resolve the conflict through peaceful means. Forum noted that restrain and calibration so far exhibited by KSA, despite grave provocations, enabled mediation and diplomatic resolution, however, such unwarranted aggressions have serious repercussions, to spoil the ongoing peaceful options and conducive environment,” the ISPR said.

The forum also appreciated the government’s efforts to bring an end to the war in the Middle East and echoed the call for restraint, dialogue and de-escalation, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to “principled diplomacy and constructive engagement”.

The military leadership reiterated Pakistan’s role as a responsible regional stakeholder, actively contributing to peace and stability as a “regional security stabiliser”.

Tensions in the Middle East escalated sharply after US and Israeli air strikes in February assassinated Iran’s then-supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several senior officials, triggering a wave of retaliation from Tehran and widening the conflict across the region.

In response to the strikes, Iran launched retaliatory attacks on US military bases in several Gulf countries, significantly expanding the scope of the confrontation.

Since then, Pakistan has emerged as a key mediator and ramped up its efforts to de-escalate tensions. Pakistan hosted a quadrilateral foreign ministers’ meeting in Islamabad, with representatives from Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, that gained global attention and was widely praised for Pakistan’s efforts.

The US and Iran were weighing ​a framework plan to end their five-week-old conflict, as Tehran said it wanted a lasting end to the war and pushed back against pressure to reopen the Strait of Hormuz under a temporary ceasefire swiftly. The Pakistani-brokered plan emerged from intense overnight contacts and proposed an immediate ceasefire, followed by talks on a broader peace settlement to be concluded within 15 to 20 days.

Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir was in contact “all night long” with US Vice President JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. However, Iran rejected the ceasefire proposal and emphasised the need for a permanent end to the conflict.

Military leadership vows to continue ‘Operation Ghazab Lil Haq’

The CCC meeting also undertook a comprehensive review of the prevailing internal and external security environment and reaffirmed that all terrorists would be pursued and eliminated.

“All terrorist proxies operating at the behest of India and other external sponsors, along with their facilitators and abettors, will be pursued relentlessly and without exception,” the ISPR said.

It further said the pace of Operation Ghazab Lil Haq, launched on Feb 27 in response to unprovoked action from across the Afghan border, would be maintained until the elimination of terrorist safe havens and the use of Afghan soil against Pakistan were decisively brought to an end.

The forum’s participants categorically rejected what was described as “persistent disinformation, baseless allegations and false flag narratives” attributed to India, noting that “such tactics stand discredited internationally”.

They also expressed concern over continued human rights violations by Indian authorities in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, and noted a recent spate of “fake encounters” at various locations to cover up extrajudicial killings.

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In his concluding remarks, CDF Munir directed commanders to maintain the “highest standards of operational readiness, professionalism and adaptability”, while expressing “full confidence in the armed forces’ ability to counter all forms of threats and ensure Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”.

The participants also offered prayers for the martyrs of the armed forces, law enforcement agencies and innocent civilians while also paying tribute to their sacrifices.

CDF Munir expressed his satisfaction and commended the security forces for their “unwavering professionalism, operational excellence and steadfast commitment” towards the country’s defence.

“Through the synergy of the government, armed forces and the people, Pakistan continues to consolidate security gains, strengthen economic resilience, and enhance its regional and global standing,” he said.