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Asharq Al-Awsat
an hour ago
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Pakistan Fears Militants Will Thrive on Restive Border if Iran Destabilized
Separatist and extremist militants on the Pakistan-Iran border could take advantage of any collapse of authority in Iran, fears that Pakistan's army chief pressed in a meeting this week with the US President Donald Trump. Anti-Iranian and anti-Pakistan outfits operate on both sides of the 560-mile (900km) long border. As Israel bombs Iran's nuclear program, its officials have repeatedly indicated that they are seeking to destabilize the Iranian government or see it toppled. As well as worrying about chaos spilling over from Iran, Pakistan is concerned about the precedent set by Israel of attacking the nuclear installations of another country. Nuclear-armed rivals Pakistan and India fought a four-day conflict in May, Reuters said. Following a Wednesday lunch at the White House with Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, Trump said: 'They're not happy about anything', referring to Pakistan's views on the Israel-Iran conflict. Pakistan's military said on Thursday that the two had discussed Iran,'with both leaders emphasizing the importance of resolution of the conflict'. Pakistan has condemned Israel's attack on Iran as a violation of international law. 'This is for us a very serious issue what is happening in our brotherly country of Iran,' Shafqat Ali Khan, spokesman for Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on Thursday. 'It imperils the entire regional security structures, it impacts us deeply.' Some of the militant groups on the border have welcomed the upheaval. Jaish al-Adl (JaA), an Iranian militant group which operates from Pakistan, said Israel's conflict with Iran was a great opportunity. 'Jaish al-Adl extends the hand of brotherhood and friendship to all the people of Iran and calls on all people, especially the people of Baluchistan, as well as the armed forces, to join the ranks of the Resistance,' the group said in a statement on June 13. Conversely, Pakistan fears that separatist militants from its own Baluch minority, which are based in Iran, will also seek to step up attacks. "There's a fear of ungoverned spaces, which would be fertile ground for terrorist groups," said Maleeha Lodhi, a former Pakistani ambassador to Washington. Pakistan has unstable borders with Taliban-run Afghanistan and arch-rival India. It does not want to add another volatile frontier on its long border with Iran. The Iran-Pakistan border region is populated with ethnic Baluch, a minority in both countries who have long complained about discrimination and launched separatist movements. On Pakistan's side, the region is a province called Balochistan and in Iran it is Sistan-Baluchistan. Until Israel's bombing of Iran, Tehran was closer to Pakistan's arch-rival India. Pakistan and Iran had even traded air strikes last year, accusing each other of harboring Baluch militants. But the attack on Iran has upended alliances, as India has not condemned Israel's bombing campaign. China has also said that it is deeply concerned about the security situation in Balochistan, with the area being a focus of Beijing's multi-billion dollar infrastructure investment program in Pakistan, centered on the new Chinese-run port of Gwadar. Baluch militant groups in Pakistan have previously targeted Chinese personnel and projects. Simbal Khan, an analyst based in Islamabad, said the different Baluch groups could morph into a 'greater Baluchistan' movement which seeks to carve out a new nation from the Baluch areas of Pakistan and Iran. 'They're all going to fight together if this blows up,' said Khan.
India Today
9 hours ago
- Politics
- India Today
Moral support, no military aid: Pak denies receiving any request from Iran
Pakistan on Thursday said it has received no request for any 'military assistance' from Iran in the ongoing conflict against Israel while stressing that the Islamic Republic has the right to defend itself.'Pakistan's position on Iran is clear and transparent: We provide full moral support to Iran; we strongly condemn the aggression against Iran,' Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said at the weekly press briefing said no request has been received from Tehran to provide asylum to Iranian refugees in Pakistan, which borders the Islamic Republic. 'Nor has Iran asked us for any kind of military assistance so far,' he added. "Iran has the right to defend itself under the UN Charter," Khan stated that twenty-one Muslim countries rejected the Israeli aggression against Iran in a joint statement, calling the Israeli actions against international law and the UN spokesperson said that the situation in Iran was a cause for grave concerns for Pakistan and asked for ending the Israel also said that Pakistan supported a negotiated resolution to the Iran-Israel Prime Minister Ishaq Dar held telephonic contacts with the foreign ministers of Iran, Turkey, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom and highlighted that Israeli actions against Iran can have dangerous effects in the region and beyond, Khan spokesperson also stressed that targeting Iranian nuclear facilities was a violation of IAEA safeguards and other international also said that the Pakistani Embassy in Tehran and the consulates in Mashhad and Zahedan were assisting in the evacuation of Pakistani nationals. He added that so far 3,000 Pakistanis have been brought InTrending Reel IN THIS STORY#Pakistan#Iran#Israel
Business Recorder
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Israel's attack on Iran violates international law: FO
ISLAMABAD: Expressing Pakistan's unambiguous stance, Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson strongly condemned the Israel's attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities, calling them a sheer violation of international law. 'Pakistan strongly condemns unjustified and illegitimate aggression by Israel against the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Israeli military strikes violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran and clearly contravene the UN Charter and fundamental principles of international law. Iran has the right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter.' Pakistan stands in resolute solidarity with the people of Iran and unequivocally denounces these blatant provocations, which constitute a grave danger and a serious threat to the peace, security, and stability of the entire region and beyond, with serious implications. Dar tells Senate: Pakistan, other OIC member states slam Israeli aggression against Iran FO Spokesperson Ambassador Shafqat Ali Khan stated this while speaking at a weekly media briefing on Thursday. He; however, dismissed the reports of regime change in Iran, terming them speculative and rumors. To a query, he asserted that no requests have so for been made by Iran regarding security assistance or hosting refugees in case of prolonged conflict between Iran and Israel. 'Pakistan strongly advocates for diplomatic solutions and wishes Iran to engage constructively,' he remarked. On the IAEA resolution concerning Iran, Ambassador Khan said Pakistan abstained from voting. 'Pakistan firmly supports diplomacy to de-escalate the Iran-Israel conflict, which poses a serious threat to regional and global security.' Responding to questions regarding Field Marshal Asim Munir's meeting with US President Donald J Trump in the White House, Ambassador Shafqat chose to not go into the details saying, the ISPR statement covers all aspects and is self-explanatory. Reaffirming the robust ties between Pakistan and the United States, Field Marshal appreciated the role played by President Trump in defusing recent tensions with eastern neighbour and facilitating a ceasefire between Pakistan and India. The FO spokesperson highlighted that India has been involved in state-sponsored terrorism in Pakistan and globally. He stated that efforts are being made to evacuate Pakistanis from conflict zones are ongoing, with estimated 3,000 citizens have been successfully repatriated via Taftan, Baku, and Baghdad. With regard to recent conflict in May, the spokesperson asserted that Pakistan took measured actions in response to Indian provocations and aggressions, in line with international law. Islamabad continues to emphasise peaceful resolutions, particularly regarding the Kashmir dispute, he added. He announced that Pakistan is fully prepared to welcome and host Sikh pilgrims for Guru Arjun Dev Gee celebrations. However, the spokesperson added that no visa applications have been submitted to the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi for Guru Arjan Dev Gee's anniversary. Pakistan reiterates its commitment to peaceful conflict resolution and diplomacy, stressing that even a courteous acknowledgment from a leader like President Trump holds significance. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
India Today
15 hours ago
- Politics
- India Today
Pakistan denies military request from Iran, backs Tehran's right to self-defence
Pakistan on Thursday clarified that it has not received any request from Iran for military assistance in its escalating conflict with Israel, even as it reiterated strong moral and diplomatic support for Tehran's right to self-defence under international law.'Pakistan's position on Iran is clear and transparent: We provide full moral support to Iran; we strongly condemn the aggression against Iran,' Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan told reporters at the weekly firmly stated that 'no request has been received from Tehran to provide asylum to Iranian refugees in Pakistan,' nor had Iran sought 'any kind of military assistance so far.' "Iran has the right to defend itself under the UN Charter," Khan spokesperson noted that twenty-one Muslim countries rejected the Israeli aggression against Iran in a joint statement, calling the Israeli actions against international law and the UN clarification comes amid growing regional anxiety as fighting between Iran and Israel shows signs of intensifying, triggering fears of a wider Middle East spokesperson said that the situation in Iran was a cause for grave concern for Pakistan and asked for an ending to the Israeli also said that Pakistan supported a negotiated resolution to the Iran-Israel Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has held a series of diplomatic calls with counterparts in Iran, Turkey, Egypt, the UAE, and the United Kingdom. 'Dar emphasised that Israeli actions against Iran can have dangerous effects in the region and beyond,' Khan spokesperson also stressed that targeting Iranian nuclear facilities was a violation of IAEA safeguards and other international also said that the Pakistani Embassy in Tehran and the consulates in Mashhad and Zahedan were assisting in the evacuation of Pakistani nationals. He added that so far 3,000 Pakistanis have been brought inputs from PTITune InTrending Reel
Arab News
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistan says 3,000 evacuated from Iran as stranded students plead for help
ISLAMABAD: The foreign office said on Thursday about 3,000 Pakistani nationals have been evacuated from Iran following the Israeli attack, adding the country's diplomatic mission is working to facilitate stranded students seeking urgent evacuation. A week of Israeli air and missile strikes, which began on June 13, has led to the killing of many of Iran's top-ranking military officials and ordinary people. In response, Tehran's retaliatory strikes have also killed about two dozen civilians in Israel. Following Friday's escalation, Iran closed its airspace to commercial flights, stranding hundreds of expatriates, including Pakistani religious tourists, students and workers. 'The evacuation is moving smoothly and so far, nearly 3,000 Pakistani nationals have already been evacuated,' foreign office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan told reporters in his weekly media briefing. 'Our consulates in Zahedan and Mashhad have been active round the clock, extending all possible facilitation and support to our nationals who are in Iran,' he said, expressing gratitude to the Iranian authorities for their sensitivity and all possible facilitation and help extended in this process. Khan said the Pakistani mission was using multiple routes to evacuate citizens, including via the Gabr and Taftan border crossings, through Ashgabat, Baku and even Baghdad, through special flights. 'It's an ongoing process as there are logistical challenges at times, but we are working together with the Iranian authorities to resolve them if a problem arises,' he added. The spokesperson said there is a sizeable Pakistani community in Iran, with many of them living in the neighboring state for years with their families after marrying local people. STRANDED STUDENTS Speaking to Arab News from various cities across Iran, Pakistani students expressed serious concerns about their safety and appealed for immediate evacuation. 'I have been stranded here since the suspension of flight operations due to the regional tensions,' Muhammad Hussain, a Pakistani medical student at Qom University of Medical Sciences, told Arab News over the phone. 'The situation is becoming more tense, we are now hearing continuous explosions, which has increased our concern for safety,' he said, adding that he tried to reach out to the Pakistan embassy as well who asked him to travel to the Chabahar border. 'I am unable to get any means to go there,' he said, urging the Pakistan government and the embassy to arrange special transport to take them to border. 'Our families are extremely worried, and we just want to go back,' he added. Noman Khan, an MBBS student in Urmia, a city in Iran's Azerbaijan province, said he was part of a group of Pakistani students, including 10 girls, awaiting repatriation amid the ongoing situation. 'We contacted the embassy to evacuate us and, about two days ago, they asked us to book a bus ourselves, promising to send the payment,' he informed, adding that even after more than 60 hours, they were still waiting for the payment without which they were unable to get transport to cross border. 'We have female students with us as well who are also scared as nearby cities were also hit by missiles,' he continued. 'Our city is about two hours away from Tabriz and almost two to three drones were shot down in our city as well.' Saman Yunus, another medical student at Iran University of Medical Sciences, said that due to the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict, they had been traveling for the past four days. 'The Pakistani Embassy advised us that it would be safer to go to the Chabahar border and assured us that any issues related to accommodation or other needs would be resolved within minutes,' she told Arab News. However, she said the biggest problem they faced was that the border was not open 24/7 and there was no accommodation available. 'As a result, we had to spend the entire night on the roadside and we contacted both our university and the embassy, but no help was provided,' she continued, adding they were now heading to Pakistani consulate in Zahedan, hoping they would facilitate a safe border crossing. 'A representative there has assured us that they will handle it as soon as possible and ensure we safely cross border,' she added.
