Gen Qamar urges US, Iran to avoid rhetoric in favour of diplomacy

Army chief discusses US-Iran standoff with ambassadors of China and Iran at GHQ

KARACHI: Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa has once again called for de-escalation of tensions between Iran and the United States hours after Tehran carried out a missiles attack on two US military bases in revenge for the target killing of its revered military commander Maj Gen Qassem Suliemani.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles against the US military bases in the Al-Asad and Erbil regions of neighbouring Iraq in the early hours of Wednesday. US President Donald Trump tweeted “all is well” after the strikes saying that an assessment of damage was ongoing.

All is well! Missiles launched from Iran at two military bases located in Iraq. Assessment of casualties & damages taking place now. So far, so good! We have the most powerful and well equipped military anywhere in the world, by far! I will be making a statement tomorrow morning.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 8, 2020

US Secretary of Defence Dr Mark T Esper telephoned Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa on Wednesday to discuss the ongoing security situation in the Middle East.

“[The] COAS received telephone call from US Secretary of Defence Dr Mark T Esper. Both discussed ongoing security situation in the Middle East,” the military’s media wing, the ISPR, said in a statement. “The secretary expressed that the US doesn’t want to seek conflict, but will respond forcefully if necessary.”

Pakistan’ civil and military leaders have repeatedly called for “maximum restraint” since the start of tension in the Middle East. Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said in a policy statement on Monday that Pakistan “will not become part of any effort to light a fire, nor will we allow our soil to be used against any other state as part of our policy to prevent instability in the region”.

In Wednesday’s telephone conversation with Secretary Esper, the army chief reiterated the same policy. “We would like [the] situation to de-escalate and shall support all initiatives which bring peace in the region,” he told the Pentagon chief.

“We call upon all concerned to avoid rhetoric in favour of diplomatic engagement. We all have worked a lot to bring peace in the region by fighting against terrorism,” the army chief further said. He added that Pakistan would continue to play its constructive part towards success of the Afghan reconciliation process, so that “it doesn’t get derailed and region goes towards conflict resolution instead of new conflicts”.

It was the second telephone contact of top Trump administration officials with the Pakistan Army chief since the killing of Maj Gen Suliemani, the head of Iran’s Quds Force, in a US drone strike near the Baghdad airport on Friday. Soon after the deadly strike, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called up Gen Qamar to discuss the possible implications of the US move.

“[The] COAS emphasised the need for maximum restraint and constructive engagement by all concerned to de-escalate the situation in broader interest of peace and stability,” the ISPR said in a statement at the time. “[The] COAS also reiterated the need for maintaining focus on success of Afghan Peace Process,” it added.

COAS discusses US-Iran standoff with China, Iran envoys

COAS Gen Qamar also discussed regional security situation including US-Iran standoff ambassadors of China and Iran – Yao Jing and Seyyed Mohammad Ali Hosseini respectively – at the GHQ.

H.E Mr Yao Jing Ambassador of China to Pakistan and H.E Mr Seyyed Mohammad Ali Hosseini, Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan separately called on COAS at GHQ. Regional security situation including US-Iran stand off was discussed. pic.twitter.com/ai1sYsrSmw

— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) January 8, 2020