Islamabad: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Pakistan has strongly condemned Israel's aggression against Iran and emphasized that good relations with the United States do not mean endorsing its actions when they are wrong. He stated that Pakistan was fully aware that Iran would not remain silent after the Israeli attack.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad while briefing on the recent OIC meeting, Dar said the issue of Iran and Israel dominated the discussions. On Pakistan’s proposal, the foreign ministers agreed to convene a special session of the OIC focusing solely on Iran. This special session was held due to Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts, he added.
Dar highlighted that throughout the tensions, he remained in close contact with the Iranian Foreign Minister, while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held multiple conversations with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi.
He asserted that Pakistan advocated for a dignified ceasefire for Iran and did not want to see Iran humiliated. "It is our moral and Islamic duty to support Iran," Dar said, noting that Iran appreciated Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts both at the UN Security Council and in its parliament.
The Iranian President, during his address to the Iranian parliament, reportedly received chants of “Thank You Pakistan” from lawmakers in recognition of Islamabad’s support during the crisis.
The Foreign Minister revealed that when the U.S. launched attacks on Iran, Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff, who was en route to Pakistan, was advised to stop over in Istanbul. During a scheduled meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, key officials from both Turkey and Pakistan, including their respective foreign ministers and intelligence chiefs, discussed the situation.
Dar further explained that Iran communicated its stance to Pakistan, asserting it is a peace-loving nation not seeking nuclear armament, but it would respond to aggression. Subsequently, Iran informed Qatar before launching a retaliatory strike on a U.S. airbase located there.
He reiterated that maintaining good ties with Washington does not oblige Pakistan to support unjust actions. "There were speculations about Pakistan’s response after the U.S. attack on Iran. We issued a clear statement outlining our position and knew Iran would not let the matter go unanswered."
Dar emphasized that Pakistan seeks a lasting ceasefire and had worked quietly behind the scenes to ensure Iran was not internationally isolated.
He also said the Istanbul Declaration, adopted during the OIC meeting, strongly condemned Israeli attacks on Iran, Syria, and Lebanon, as well as the ongoing massacre of Palestinians.
The declaration also rejected the forced displacement of Palestinians from their homeland and included a renewed call for resolving India-Pakistan issues.
