Pakistan committed to diplomacy, says DG ISPR

Director-General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has said that Pakistan would continue to work towards a "negotiated and peaceful outcome" to the conflict between the United States and Iran, stressing that the war should not "expand horizontally or vertically".

"We want that this conflict should not expand horizontally or vertically," Chaudhry said in an interview with CNN correspondent Ivan Watson on Wednesday, a clip of which was shared by Pakistan Television on X on Friday.

Asked whether Pakistan could continue to act as a neutral broker despite its defence commitments to Saudi Arabia under the Makkah Defence Alliance, Chaudhry said Islamabad had demonstrated its impartiality through its responses to attacks on both Iran and Gulf countries.

"I think what Pakistan has been doing is exhibiting that we have been a very honest broker," he said, adding that Pakistan had been clear about its position with all its partners and friends.

He said Pakistan had openly condemned attacks on Iran by Israel and the US, as well as Iranian attacks on Arab and Gulf countries. "We don't mince our words. Why? Because we have a stake in regional peace and stability," he said. "We tell all that nobody benefits from expanding this war."

The military spokesperson's remarks came amid continued regional tensions and questions over how Pakistan would balance its mediation efforts with its defence commitments to Saudi Arabia.

On Pakistan's military presence in Saudi Arabia, Chaudhry confirmed that Pakistani forces were already in the Kingdom, "The Pakistani troops have been there for decades, in multiple capacities have been there for decades in Saudi Arabia," he said, pointing to the longstanding diplomatic, political and military ties between the three countries.