Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated Pakistan’s strong backing of Iran following an increase in military exchanges between Tehran and Israel, emphasizing its longstanding policy of regional cooperation among Muslim nations while emphasizing Pakistan’s role in advocating peace through lawful, international channels.
On June 14 in a phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Sharif expressed “resolute solidarity” with both Iran’s government and people and strongly condemned Israel’s strikes as violations of Iranian sovereignty, international law and UN Charter (kurdistan24.net/kurdistan24news/188988804)
He urged the UN and global powers to take urgent and credible steps to put an end to hostilities.
“Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif strongly condemned Israel’s aggressive acts and adventurism as a grave threat to global peace and stability, according to an Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) statement,” according to timesofindia.indiatimes.com | arabnews.com, for instance.
Sharif also extended his condolences for those lost and noted that Pakistan had already expressed its position at an emergency UNSC session.
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif took an aggressive stance earlier today when addressing Pakistan’s National Assembly, calling for Muslim countries to cut diplomatic relations with Israel in order to maintain regional security and urges OIC member nations to adopt a united strategy against Israeli military operations (tribune.com.pk, arabnews.com, dawn.com etc).
Sharif also reinforced Pakistan’s humanitarian approach by instructing a Crisis Management Cell of the Foreign Office to assist Pakistani pilgrims (Zaireen) who had traveled to Iran. Their protection and safe return home amid conflict were assured and ensured. [source] dawn.com
On June 16 in Islamabad, Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif met with Iran’s ambassador, Reza Amiri Moghadam. At the Pakistan International Maritime Expo he reiterated Pakistani solidarity while condemning Israel’s actions as “blatant provocations” while stressing the importance of protecting international norms and regional stability (Arabnews.com; Aryana News TV +3; Telegraphindia +3)
Iran welcomed Pakistan’s support, with President Pezeshkian hailing Sharif’s words as an expression of their strong “brotherly relations”, emphasizing unity amidst shared challenges (Arabnews.com/ +5; Dawn/com/ +5)
This diplomatic coordination coincides with increased regional tensions. Israel’s recent strikes against Iranian military and nuclear facilities–some of which reportedly killed senior IRGC officials as well as civilians–prompted swift Iranian missile counterstrikes, raising fears of wider escalation, arabnews.com reported.
Pakistan’s uncompromising position stems from historical precedent; Islamabad was among the first nations to recognize Iran in 1947, and since then they have enjoyed close strategic ties.
Prime Minister Sharif seeks to strengthen regional cohesion and international advocacy against wider conflict by reinforcing solidarity, mobilizing diplomatic mechanisms, and coordinating humanitarian efforts – actions which he hopes will strengthen regional cohesion as well as international advocacy against wider conflicts. Pakistan’s firm support shows its desire to avoid prolonged regional warfare while reinforcing calls for diplomatic resolution over military confrontation.