By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Security Committee (NSC) on Monday strongly condemned Israel’s airstrikes on Iran and endorsed Tehran’s right to self-defense, but refrained from addressing the United States’ weekend strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, signaling a delicate diplomatic balancing act.
The emergency meeting, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and attended by Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, followed a week of Israeli attacks on Iran and a US operation on June 22 targeting nuclear sites in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. The committee’s statement, released by the Prime Minister’s Office, called Israel’s actions “reckless” and warned they risked igniting a broader conflict, especially amid stalled U.S.-Iran talks.
“The Committee strongly condemned Israel’s acts of aggression and expressed regret that these military attacks coincided with a constructive negotiation process between Iran and the United States,” the statement said. “These reckless actions have escalated tensions, threatening to ignite a wider conflict and diminishing the opportunities for dialogue and diplomacy.”
Yet it sidestepped any mention of the US strike, which Pakistan had previously labeled a breach of international law, a notable omission given Washington’s role in the escalating crisis.
The United States joined the war on Sunday and its bombers dropped 30,000 pound bunker-busters on Iran’s underground nuclear sites, while U.S. President Donald Trump openly mused about overthrowing the Iranian government. Iran repeatedly threats to retaliate against the United States, but it had yet to so in a meaningful way more than 24 hours after the US attack.
The US attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities come just four days after Field Marshal Munir met with the US President Donald Trump. The attack also followed an announcement from the Pakistani government on Saturday, when it decided to formally recommend Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for his role in mediating the recent conflict between Pakistan and India.
The Israeli airstrikes, which spanned the preceding week, and the subsequent US operation have intensified an already volatile situation in the Middle East, prompting Pakistan to weigh in with urgency.
“While reiterating Pakistan’s stated position, the NSC expressed grave concern over the potential for further escalation after the attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan on June 22 which violated the resolutions of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), relevant international law, and the UN Charter,” the statement said.
The NSC, however, minced no words in its rebuke of Israel. “The NSC reaffirmed Iran’s right to self-defense as enshrined in the UN Charter.”
The Committee extended condolences to the Iranian government and people for the loss of innocent lives caused by the attacks. The committee also offered prayers for the recovery of those injured.
The NSC also emphasized Pakistan’s proactive role in the crisis, noting its “close engagement with relevant parties” and endorsing the government’s readiness to “continue efforts and initiatives aimed at promoting regional peace and stability.”
“The NSC called on all relevant parties to resolve the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy, in line with the UN Charter. The Committee underscored the need of adhering to international human rights and humanitarian laws.”
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