Pakistan concerned over escalation in ME

Islamabad calls on all parties to exercise utmost restraint and move towards de-escalation, says FO

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan expressed deep concern over the escalating situation in the Middle East following Iran's missile and drone strikes towards its arch enemy Israel. Describing the recent events as a breakdown of diplomacy, the Foreign Office in a statement emphasized the urgent necessity for de-escalation.

The statement urged all parties to exercise utmost restraint and work towards restoring peace in the volatile region.

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“Today’s developments demonstrate the consequences of the breakdown of diplomacy. These also underline the grave implications in cases where the UN Security Council is unable to fulfil its responsibilities of maintaining international peace and security,” the statement said.

“It is now critically urgent to stabilise the situation and restore peace. We call on all parties to exercise utmost restraint and move towards de-escalation. For months, Pakistan has underlined the necessity of international efforts to prevent expansion of hostilities in the region and for Gaza ceasefire,” it added.

Iran launched more than 300 drones and missiles towards Israel late on Saturday, the first-ever direct assault on Israeli territory that came in retaliation for a deadly air strike on Tehran’s consulate in the Syrian capital earlier this month.

The attack, which injured 12 people in Israel, came as fighting between Israel and Hamas raged in Gaza. Most of the drones and missiles were intercepted before reaching Israel, with help from the United States, Jordan, Britain and other allies, the Israeli army said.

The Iranian army declared that its attack was “completed successfully”, and that it was in “self defence” after the Israel’s strike in Damascus, which killed seven of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards including two generals on April 1.

A day after the Israeli attack, Pakistan had termed the assault a major escalation. “On 2, April 2024, Pakistan had pointed to the dangers of the attack on Iranian consular office in Syria as a major escalation in an already volatile region,” the Foreign Office statement said.