Islamabad: Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has said Pakistan supports Iran but has urged Tehran to keep in mind Islamabad’s defence agreement with Saudi Arabia.
Speaking in the Senate, Dar said Pakistan does not support any confrontation. “Pakistan stands with Iran wholeheartedly,” he stated. However, he added that Pakistan has already signed a defence pact with Saudi Arabia and conveyed to Iran that this agreement must be respected.
He noted that the reaction against Saudi Arabia and Oman had been comparatively limited. Dar also thanked the Iranian leadership for understanding Pakistan’s position.
Pakistan Backed Iran at All Forums
Dar said Iran was attacked despite positive progress in negotiations. He stressed that Pakistan raised its voice in Tehran’s favour at every available forum.
“We did whatever we could in the background,” he said. He added that the Field Marshal also made efforts at his level and that diplomatic contacts are still ongoing.
The deputy prime minister urged political actors not to give the issue a wrong angle inside the country. He announced that opposition leaders and parliamentary heads would receive an in-camera briefing on the regional situation.
In-Camera Briefing Scheduled
The government has decided to take parliamentary leaders of the National Assembly and Senate into confidence over the crisis triggered by the attack on Iran.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved an in-camera session to brief lawmakers on the Middle East situation. The briefing will be held at 11:30am today. Coordination responsibilities have been assigned to Rana Sanaullah.
Conflict Spreads Across Middle East
The war that began between the United States and Israel has now expanded across the Middle East. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targeted a US base in Bahrain, reportedly firing 20 drones and three missiles.
Meanwhile, US Central Command claimed it destroyed an Iranian command and control centre. Iranian missile launch sites and other targets were also hit.
A drone attack was also reported at the US Embassy in Saudi Arabia. At the same time, clashes between Israel and Hezbollah intensified. Israeli jets carried out heavy strikes on Beirut and issued evacuation warnings for 59 towns in Lebanon. Hezbollah also launched drone attacks on Israeli airbases.
The situation remains volatile, with regional powers calling for restraint and diplomatic engagement to prevent further escalation.