ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan will side with peace and ready to play a constructive role in seeking a diplomatic solution to the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict that now the United States has also become part of, raising the spectre of wider regional war, officials said after a civil-military huddle on Monday.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif convened a meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) to discuss the deteriorating situation in the Middle East in the wake of the US abandoning its 45-year-old Iran policy and launching direct strikes on its nuclear sites on Sunday.
Senior cabinet members, military chiefs, including Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and others were in attendance.
The direct involvement of the US in the Israel-Iran war has added new and dangerous dimensions to the already volatile region. It has compounded Pakistan’s challenge as it has to walk a tightrope in a war that has direct bearing on the country.
Against this backdrop, the civil and military leadership discussed in detail the current situation and Pakistan’s strategy.
Sources familiar with the development said that there was complete unanimity of views in the meeting that Pakistan must first protect its own national interests and pursue the path of diplomacy.
They added that Pakistan, given its close ties with Iran and the recent reset with the US, under the administration of President Donald Trump, had a unique position to broker a deal or facilitate a diplomatic solution.
According to sources, Pakistan would avail every opportunity and leave no stone unturned to prevent further escalation.
An official handout of the meeting stated that the prime minister chaired the NSC meeting to review the evolving regional situation following Israeli aggression against Iran.
The committee strongly condemned Israel’s acts of aggression and expressed regret that these military attacks coincided with a constructive negotiation process between Iran and the United States.
“These reckless actions have escalated tensions, threatening to ignite a wider conflict and diminishing the opportunities for dialogue and diplomacy. The NSC reaffirmed Iran’s right to self-defence as enshrined in the UN Charter,” it said.
The committee conveyed condolences to the government and people of Iran on loss of innocent lives and prayed for the recovery of injured.
While reiterating Pakistan’s stated position, the NSC expressed grave concern over the potential for further escalation after the attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan on June 22, which violated the resolutions of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), relevant international law, and the UN Charter.
Interestingly, the NSC statement did not explicitly mention the US nor condemn its strikes. However, officials referred to the part of a statement where it said that Pakistan reiterated its “stated position” implying that previous condemnation statements issued by the Foreign Office and the prime minister were endorsed by the committee. The officials dismissed the perception there was any change in Pakistan’s stance.
The NSC also reaffirmed Pakistan’s close engagement with relevant parties and endorsed its readiness to further continue efforts and initiatives aimed at promoting regional peace and stability.
The NSC called on all relevant parties to resolve the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy, in line with the UN Charter. The committee underscored the need for adhering to international human rights and humanitarian laws.
(WITH INPUT FROM APP)
