ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday reiterated that it did not want tensions to escalate in the Middle East and will continue to play its role to establish peace and stability in the region.
Foreign Office Spokesperson Aisha Farooqui, in the weekly press briefing, said that Pakistan has decided to launch a diplomatic initiative as part of its efforts to seek de-escalation in tensions in the Middle East after the assassination of top Iranian military commander and subsequent retaliation by Iran targeting the US military bases in Iraq.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Imran Khan made it abundantly clear that Pakistan would not become a party to any war; he offered Pakistan’s good offices to all the players for defusing the brewing tensions in the region.
PM Imran had directed Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi to undertake visits to Iran, Saudi Arabia and United States and at the same time asked Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa to reach out to relevant military authorities.
The spokesperson said that Pakistan enjoys cordial relations with all the countries including Iran and Afghanistan.
Farooqui also stressed that Pakistan rejects any Indian propaganda adding that the opening of Kartarpur Corridor reflects PM Imran’s vision of having cordial relation with the neighbouring country.
Earlier on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Qureshi said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is using different tactics to carry out a false flag operation and divert attention from the gross human rights violation in the region.
“We believe the use of force can only make matters worse,” he said.
The FM urged United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and the international community to play their role and reduce tensions between Washington and Tehran, following Iran’s missile attack at US-led forces in Iraq in retaliation for the US drone strike on an Iranian commander whose killing last week stoked fears of a new Middle East war.
The foreign minister appealed to the US and Iran to demonstrate patience as the region cannot tolerate tension, adding that “war is not in the interest of anyone”.
In a statement regarding the heightened tensions in Iran, Qureshi urged the UNSC and international community to play their role to stabilise the situation.
