Pakistan in delicate balancing act

Pakistan on Saturday condemned both the Israeli and US strikes against Iran and Iran's retaliatory attacks on several Gulf countries, in what appears to be a carefully calibrated diplomatic response aimed at maintaining balance amid a rapidly escalating regional crisis.

In a strongly worded statement, the Foreign Office expressed regret over the "breakdown of talks and outbreak of hostilities" in the Middle East, saying the attacks on Iran came at a time when diplomatic efforts were underway to secure a peaceful and negotiated settlement.

"These attacks will undermine the peace and stability of the entire region, with far-reaching consequences," the statement said, without directly naming Israel or the US but clearly referring to its strikes on Iranian targets earlier in the day.

However, in a parallel condemnation, Islamabad also denounced Iran's subsequent attacks on what it described as "brotherly countries" including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, calling them "blatant violations of sovereignty."

The Foreign Office confirmed the death of a Pakistani national in the UAE during what it termed a "dastardly attack," further underscoring Islamabad's concern about the widening fallout of the confrontation.

The carefully balanced statement reflects Pakistan's complex diplomatic position. While Islamabad has traditionally supported Iran's right to sovereignty and consistently criticised Israeli actions in the region, it also maintains deep strategic, economic and security ties with Gulf states particularly Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif moved swiftly to reinforce those ties, holding separate telephone conversations with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the Amir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

In his conversation with the Saudi Crown Prince, the prime minister "strongly condemned the serious regional escalation" resulting from the Israeli attack on Iran and the subsequent strikes on Gulf countries.

He assured the Saudi leadership of Pakistan's "full solidarity and support," pledging that Islamabad would stand with its "Saudi brothers and sisters under all circumstances."

Similarly, in his call with the Qatari Amir, the prime minister reiterated Pakistan's "full solidarity and support" with Qatar amid the crisis, referring to his recent meeting in Doha and emphasising Pakistan's readiness to play a constructive role to ensure regional peace.

Also, in conversation with the UAE President, the Prime Minister strongly condemned the serious regional escalation resulting from the Israeli attack on Iran earlier, followed by the regrettable attacks against the UAE, in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai, as well as in other Gulf countries.

The Prime Minister also expressed his sadness at the tragic demise of a Pakistani national in the missile attack on Abu Dhabi.

He assured the UAE leadership of Pakistan's solidarity and support in the current crisis and said that Pakistan would always stand with its Emirati brothers and sisters, consistent with the close fraternal bonds between both countries, that had withstood the test of times.

Diplomatic observers say Islamabad is attempting to walk a tightrope at a time when tensions threaten to spiral into a broader regional conflict. Pakistan shares a long border with Iran and has recently sought to stabilise ties. At the same time, its economic lifeline is closely linked to Gulf states, where millions of Pakistani expatriates reside and billions of dollars in remittances originate.

The Foreign Office urged all sides to exercise "maximum restraint" and refrain from further actions that could undermine the security and territorial integrity of regional countries. It also stressed the need to uphold international law and the principles of the UN Charter.

Significantly, Islamabad called for a return to diplomacy, emphasising that only a peaceful and negotiated solution could defuse the crisis.

In a related development, Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday strongly condemned the unwarranted attacks against Iran.

He called for an immediate halt to escalation through urgent resumption of diplomacy to achieve a peaceful, negotiated resolution to the crisis, the Foreign Office spokesperson said in a press release.

The DPM/FM received a call from Foreign Minister of Iran Seyed Abbas Araghchi. They reviewed the evolving situation in Iran and the wider region.