logo
Threat of wider war in ME is real: Asif

Threat of wider war in ME is real: Asif

ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Sunday said that Pakistan stands in complete solidarity with neighbouring Iran in the face of Israel's unprovoked and unjustified aggression.
Talking to a private news channel, he said that Pakistan condemns the attacks carried out by Israel and is gravely concerned about the potential for further escalation in the region.
'The threat of a wider war in the Middle East is real,' he warned, calling for an immediate end to the hostilities.
He stated that the recent crisis has revitalized Pakistan-Iran relations, with brotherly ties growing stronger.
'Our bilateral relationship has deepened further in the face of regional challenges,' he added.
Offering his analysis on the situation, he said, 'Israel's existence poses a continuous threat to regional peace. The concept of peace with Israel is inherently contradictory.'
He asserted that Israel's so-called invincibility has been badly exposed. 'The spirits of the people of Gaza remains unshaken like rock solid.'
He emphasized that Israel must abandon the illusion that bombing Muslim populations will crush their willpower. 'That is not going to happen,' he said.
Commenting on India's stance, he noted that India believed its international influence was
substantial, but its rejection of US mediation reflects a weakness in global diplomacy.
He further added that the illusion of Indian military and diplomatic supremacy had faded. 'Their myths have collapsed.'

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

National Security Committee to meet today
National Security Committee to meet today

Business Recorder

time3 hours ago

  • Business Recorder

National Security Committee to meet today

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, has convened an important meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) on Monday (today) at 12 pm at the Prime Minister's House. According to reports, the NSC meeting will be attended by both civil and military leadership including Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, who is expected to brief participants on his recent visit to the United States. Senior cabinet members including the Defence Minister, Interior Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, and Finance Minister will also be in attendance. In meeting with COAS Munir, Trump lauds Pakistan's ongoing efforts for regional peace, stability The session will include consultations on the ongoing Iran-Israel-US tensions, with major decisions likely regarding Pakistan's support for Iran and other key matters. The internal security and border situation of the country will also be reviewed in detail during the meeting, sources said. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025

Trump cuts India down to size
Trump cuts India down to size

Business Recorder

time5 hours ago

  • Business Recorder

Trump cuts India down to size

This is apropos a letter to the Editor titled 'India's water belligerence' carried by the newspaper yesterday. In my view the writer is spot on as it is increasingly evident that India's has been trying to overcome the shock that it has received in the four-day conflict at the hands of Pakistan last month. No doubt, the meeting between US President Donald Trump and Pakistan's Field Marshal and army chief Asim Munir has spooked the Indian government so much so that its ministers are now making more irresponsible statements against Pakistan than before. It is important to note that now Pakistan has announced its formal decision to recommend US President Donald Trump for 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, praising his 'decisive diplomatic intervention and pivotal leadership' during the recent four-day war between Pakistan and India. In a statement posted on X, the government highlighted Trump's pivotal role in helping to de-escalate tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations. The post carried the headline: 'Government of Pakistan Recommends President Donald J Trump for 2026 Nobel Peace Prize.' How ironic it is from India's perspective that prime minister Narendra Modi's so-called 'close friend' President Trump is now being assailed by Godi media for inflicting a blow on India's nefarious designs of becoming the regional hegemon. Be that as it may, Trump deserves praise for cutting India down to size in an effective and meaningful manner. Sana Adeel (Karachi) Copyright Business Recorder, 2025

World reacts to strikes as 'dangerous escalation'
World reacts to strikes as 'dangerous escalation'

Express Tribune

time6 hours ago

  • Express Tribune

World reacts to strikes as 'dangerous escalation'

London talks follow first public call between Trump and Xi since his return to the White House, held just days earlier. PHOTO: REUTERS The reaction of international community poured in after the United States struck three nuclear sites in Iran on Sunday, with majority of the world leaders condemning the attack and calling for de-escalation. The European Union's top diplomat Kaja Kallas called for de-escalation and a return to negotiations. "I urge all sides to step back, return to the negotiating table and prevent further escalation," Kallas wrote on X, adding that Iran must not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and that EU foreign ministers would discuss the situation Monday. Russia 'strongly condemned' the bombings, calling them 'irresponsible' and a 'gross violation of international law'. "A dangerous escalation has begun, fraught with further undermining of regional and global security," the Russian foreign ministry added. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the strikes a "dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge". "There is no military solution. The only path forward is diplomacy. The only hope is peace," Guterres said in a statement. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called on Iran to "return to the negotiating table and reach a diplomatic solution to end this crisis". "Iran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and the US has taken action to alleviate that threat," Starmer said on X, adding that "stability in the region is a priority". French President Emmanuel Macron has called a meeting of the country's defence council for Sunday, with his office saying he had spoken with the leaders of Saudi Arabia and Oman on Sunday. France is urging "all parties to exercise restraint to avoid any escalation that could lead to an extension of the conflict", Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot posted on X. China's foreign ministry said it "strongly condemns" the US strikes, warning that they "escalate tensions in the Middle East". "China calls on all parties to the conflict, especially Israel, to cease fire as soon as possible," the ministry said. Pope Leo XIV said after the strikes that "humanity is crying out for peace" and called for an end to all wars. "Each member of the international community has the moral responsibility to end the tragedy of war, before it becomes an irreparable chasm," Leo said during his weekly Angelus prayer at the Vatican. Saudi Arabia expressed "great concern" after the strikes on its neighbour, the "sisterly Islamic Republic of Iran". "The Kingdom underscores the need to exert all possible efforts to exercise restraint, de-escalate tensions, and avoid further escalation," the foreign ministry posted on X. Pakistan, the only nuclear-armed Muslim country and a longtime Washington ally, said the US attacks "violate all norms of international law". "We are gravely concerned at the possible further escalation of tensions in the region," Pakistan's foreign ministry said, adding that Iran had the "right to defend itself under the UN Charter". The Palestinian militant group Hamas condemned the "blatant US aggression against the territory and sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran". "This brutal aggression is a dangerous escalation," Hamas said, calling the attack "a flagrant violation of international law, and a direct threat to international peace and security".

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store