Crisis to cannonade

As Israel and Iran trade fire to the extent of annihilation, Pakistan has come up with a categorical stance on the evolving warfare in the region. The National Security Committee, highest civil-military combine, yesterday reaffirmed Tehran's right to self-defence, and called for immediate cessation of hostilities. The emergent session under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned Israel's acts of aggression, and feared that it could lead to catastrophic results. The committee was reportedly debriefed by the Army Chief Gen Asim Munir on the details of his meeting with President Donald Trump last week at the White House, as the session called for dialogue and diplomacy to tackle the situation in the Middle East.

Islamabad has taken a leap forward in defusing the crisis as it joined Russia and China in tabling a draft resolution at the UN Security Council demanding ceasefire and protection of civilians. The bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities by the US has circumvented all prospects of a negotiated solution, as Iran has vowed to avenge it in days to come by broadening the scope of retaliation. This is where some critical diplomacy and abject positioning is desired, and Pakistan is on the mark, sticking to a principled approach of non-violation of any state's territorial integrity. The crisis at hand, especially the attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, is a clear breach of International Law – an aspect castigated by the IAEA itself.

Panic in the Straits of Hormuz, nonetheless, tipped the conflagration to new heights as commercial vessels were seen flagging for peace. This nervousness, coupled with exigency statements – German Chancellor Friedrich Merz insisting that there was "no reason to criticize" the US for striking Iran, and NATO chief Mark Rutte stressing that Tehran should not be allowed to have a nuclear bomb – are unreasonable stunts. The alignment on the other side of the divide, however, is marshalling as Russian President Vladimir Putin threw his weight behind Iran as he met Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Moscow. This evolution from crisis to conflagration demands astute diplomacy and not a cannonade.