Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar conveyed a strong message, affirming that Pakistan remains unwavering in its dedication to peace and stability, even as regional tensions escalate after Iranian strikes.
These comments were made during talks with the Chinese ambassador, Jiang Zaidong, where the focus was primarily on the shifting geopolitical landscape.
The crisis in the Middle East has intensified significantly.
The Foreign Office expressed profound regret over the breakdown of diplomatic negotiations and the outbreak of hostilities, denouncing recent attacks on Iran as detrimental to peace efforts.
Officials cautioned that ongoing military operations could trigger a broader regional conflict with repercussions extending well beyond the battlefield.
Pakistan shows solidarity with the Middle East after Iranian strikes
Pakistan has also firmly opposed Iranian missile strikes aimed at neighboring countries, labeling the assaults on Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates as clear infringements of sovereignty.
The government has shown solidarity with these nations and called for maximum restraint, emphasising that retaliation and escalation only worsen the cycle of violence.
The conflict has resulted in the loss of innocent lives, including a Pakistani citizen who was killed in the UAE during the attack.
The Foreign Office condemned this incident and urged all parties to cease further actions that jeopardise regional security and territorial integrity.
China condemns attacks on Iran
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated on Sunday that the attacks by the US and Israel on Iran are intolerable, urging for an immediate ceasefire and the revival of negotiations to avert a broader regional conflict.
Wang characterised the “blatant killing of a sovereign leader” and the provocation of regime change as “unacceptable” during a phone conversation with Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, as reported by China’s state-run Xinhua news agency.
On Saturday morning, the US and Israel launched an assault on Iran, resulting in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
In a post on X, the Chinese embassy in the US condemned the killing of Khamenei and urged for an immediate halt to military operations.
US President Donald Trump encouraged the Iranian people to seize the opportunity and “take over” the government.
China urges Chinese nationals to leave Iran
On Sunday, the Chinese embassy in Israel recommended that its citizens evacuate to safer locations within the country or depart for Egypt through the Taba border crossing.
Additionally, China’s foreign ministry on Sunday urged Chinese nationals in Iran to exit “as soon as possible,” providing four land routes to Azerbaijan, Armenia, Turkey, and Iraq.
Chinese citizens also sustained injuries during the attacks, and some have found themselves stranded, according to China’s foreign ministry, which also cautioned Chinese nationals against traveling to the Middle East.
Read more: Which countries did Iran attack in last 24 hours?
