Pakistan clarified on Thursday that it has not been approached by Iran for any military help during the ongoing conflict between Tehran and Israel. Islamabad reaffirmed at the same time its moral support to Iran and asserted the right of the country for self-defense.
Referring to the weekly media briefing, Foreign Office official spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan stated, "Pakistan's stance on Iran is crystal clear: We offer our total moral support to Iran; we strongly condemn Iran's aggression."
Khan assured that there was no official overture from Iran requesting military co-operation or aid, nor even a request to give refuge to Iranian refugees in spite of the two nations sharing a common border. "Nor has Iran asked us for any type of military help so far," he added.
He reaffirmed that according to international law, Iran has the right to protect its sovereignty. "Iran can defend itself as per the UN Charter," Khan pointed out.
In Khan's view, a 21-nation Muslim joint statement denounced Israel's actions as against international principles and the UN Charter.
He further conveyed Islamabad's serious concern at the worsening situation and called for an immediate end to Israeli military action. "The Iranian situation is a source of serious concerns for Pakistan," Khan said, reaffirming that Pakistan believes in a peaceful, negotiated resolution to the Iran-Israel conflict.
In an attempt to foster regional stability, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has met with the foreign ministers of Iran, Turkey, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom. In these meetings, Dar issued a warning of the potentially catastrophic repercussions that ongoing Israeli aggression might have for the broader region.
Khan also pointed out Pakistan's fears regarding any Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, stating that it would violate international agreements and inspection pacts. "Targeting Iranian nuclear facilities was a violation of IAEA safeguards and other international laws," he stressed.
On the humanitarian side, Khan declared that Pakistan's diplomatic offices in Iran — its embassy in Tehran and consulates in Mashhad and Zahedan — are working actively to evacuate Pakistani nationals from the nation. "A total of 3,000 Pakistanis have so far been repatriated," he reported.
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