Pakistan stands in full solidarity with Saudi Arabia, Gulf countries: PM
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (L), Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif (C) and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Saturday that Pakistan stood in full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states following Iranian attacks on them in retaliation for strikes by Israel and the United States on the Islamic republic.
In a statement on X, the prime minister stated he spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman this evening to express Pakistan’s strong condemnation of the "dangerous regional escalation" following the Israeli attack on Iran and subsequent attacks in the Gulf region.
PM Shehbaz further said that Pakistan remained ready to play a constructive role for peace and prayed that the blessings of Ramazan bring calm and stability to the region.
The premier also held a telephone conversation with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The prime minister strongly condemned the grave regional tensions triggered by Israel’s attack on Iran, which were followed by "regrettable and condemnable strikes" on the UAE and other Gulf states, including Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
He expressed deep sorrow over the death of a Pakistani national in the missile attack on Abu Dhabi and conveyed his heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the bereaved family.
The prime minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s full solidarity and support for the leadership and people of the UAE during the difficult time. He stated that Pakistan would always stand shoulder to shoulder with its Emirati allies, noting that the strong fraternal ties between the two countries had withstood every test of time.
The premier had a similar talk later with Qatar's emir.
Had a telephone conversation this evening with my Dear Brother HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of Qatar, to express Pakistan’s strong solidarity with the brotherly people of Qatar.
We strongly condemn the serious regional escalation from the Israeli attack on Iran…The premier’s call to the heads of Gulf countries came in the wake of rising tensions in the region after the United States and Israel jointly launched strikes on Iran, pushing the Middle East into renewed military confrontation and further dimming hopes for a diplomatic solution to the West’s long-standing effort to denuclearise Iran, despite Tehran’s repeated assertions that it will not pursue nuclear weapons.
US strikes are being launched by air and sea, a US official told Reuters. Speaking to CNN, a US official claims that the strikes were "only on military targets".
Read More: Iran targets US bases in Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and UAE after American, Israeli strikes
"The State of Israel launched a pre-emptive attack against Iran to remove threats to the State of Israel," Defence Minister Israel Katz said.
Israeli defence officials state that this operation was planned months ago, with the launch date decided some weeks prior. They added that this attack was coordinated with the US, and the US has planned "several days of attacks" against Iran.
In response, Iran targeted Israel and US bases in the Middle East. Explosions were reported in Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said that a first wave of retaliatory missile and drone attacks had been launched against Israel, warning that all US bases and interests in the region were within Iran’s reach, an Iranian official told Reuters.