By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Saturday condemned the US and Israeli strikes on Iran as “unwarranted” and called for the urgent resumption of diplomacy to resolve the crisis, while also strongly denouncing Iran’s retaliatory missile attacks on several Gulf Arab states as blatant violations of their sovereignty.
The Foreign Office said it regretted “the breakdown of talks and outbreak of hostilities in the Middle East.” “Pakistan condemns the unwarranted attacks against the Islamic Republic of Iran. These attacks come at a time when diplomatic efforts were underway to reach a peaceful and negotiated solution,” the ministry said in a statement. It added that such a course of action “will undermine the peace and stability of the entire region, with far reaching consequences.”
Pakistan also “strongly condemned” the attacks by Iran against Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The ministry stood in solidarity with the “brotherly countries” and underscored “the need to exercise maximum restraint,” describing the strikes as “blatant violations of the sovereignty of the brotherly Gulf states.” The statement singled out the death of a Pakistani national in the UAE during what it called the “dastardly attack” and urged all sides “to refrain from any further actions that may undermine the security and territorial integrity of other regional countries.”
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke by telephone with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Sharif “strongly condemned the serious regional escalation that had taken place as a result of the Israeli attack on Iran, followed by the ‘regrettable attacks on other Gulf countries.’” “While assuring the Saudi leadership of Pakistan’s full solidarity and support in the current situation, the prime minister said that Pakistan would always stand with its Saudi brothers and sisters, at all times to come, and under all circumstances,” the statement said.
Sharif told the crown prince that Pakistan was ready to play a constructive role at this difficult time and prayed that the blessings of the holy month of Ramadan would bring peace to the region at the earliest. Sharif later posted on X: “Pakistan stands in full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and our brotherly Gulf countries in this perilous time. We remain ready to play a constructive role for peace and pray that the blessings of Ramadan bring calm and stability to our region.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and “strongly condemned the unwarranted attacks against Iran,” the Foreign Office said. The two leaders reviewed the evolving situation in Iran and the wider region, and Dar called for “an immediate halt to escalation through urgent resumption of diplomacy to achieve a peaceful, negotiated resolution to the crisis.”
Dar also spoke with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud. Both expressed deep concern over the unfolding developments and agreed to remain in close contact, the ministry said. For the safety of its citizens, the Foreign Office issued a travel advisory. “For their safety and security, Pakistani nationals are advised to avoid all non-mandatory travel to the Islamic Republic of Iran,” it said. Those currently in Iran “must exercise caution, remain vigilant, minimize non-essential travel, and stay in regular contact with the Pakistani Missions.”
The Pakistan International Airlines suspended flights to the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Doha and Kuwait due to the evolving situation. “These flights will not operate until tomorrow evening or until the restoration of airspace, whichever comes later,” a PIA spokesperson said. Flights to Saudi Arabia would continue but on changed routes using Boeing 777 aircraft and longer paths to their destinations.
Pakistan’s air traffic controllers were directed to maintain strict monitoring of the country’s airspace, with particular attention to the Iran-Afghanistan region and adjoining areas. Pakistani airlines were ordered not to use Iranian airspace. The Pakistan Airports Authority said the country’s airspace remained “fully operational and safe,” with no delays or restrictions reported. The Pakistani ambassador to Iran urged nationals there to review flight schedules and border timings carefully in light of restrictions announced by Iranian authorities and to keep emergency contact numbers for Tehran, Zahedan and Mashhad ready.
The statements and measures came after Israel and the United States launched strikes on Iran on Saturday, plunging the Middle East into renewed military confrontation. President Donald Trump, in a video address, said the United States was carrying out “major operations” with the objective of defending the American people by eliminating immediate threats from the Iranian regime. “Iran can never have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said, claiming Tehran had tried to rebuild its program. “We are going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground … we’re going to annihilate their navy.”
He warned that Americans may be lost and there may be casualties, and addressed the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps: “lay down their arms … You will be treated fairly with total immunity, or you will face certain death.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the operation would remove the “existential threat” posed by the Iranian regime and create conditions for the Iranian people to take their destiny into their own hands. Israeli officials described the action as pre-emptive, planned months in advance and coordinated with the United States, with US strikes expected over several days.
Iran responded with a sweeping barrage of missiles and drones targeting Israel and Gulf states. Its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said the strikes hit the US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain and other American assets across the Gulf. Explosions and air-defense activity were reported across Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, Jordan, Israel and Iraq. In Abu Dhabi, witnesses reported five loud booms in rapid succession that caused windows near the Corniche to vibrate. Similar explosions were heard in the Al Dhafra and Bateen areas. The UAE said its air defences intercepted a number of ballistic missiles but that debris fell in a residential area, killing one person of Asian nationality — identified by Pakistani officials as a Pakistani national — and causing material damage.
The UAE called the attack a “blatant” violation of sovereignty and a “cowardly act,” reserving the right to respond. Bahrain reported a missile strike on the service center of the US Fifth Fleet, with video showing a thick gray plume of smoke rising near the coastline as sirens sounded. Qatar said it downed all incoming missiles using Patriot interceptors; the country hosts the large Al Udeid US air base. Kuwait and Jordan also reported interceptions.
Iranian media reported explosions in Tehran’s Pasteur district, near the home of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as well as in Keshvardoost, Isfahan, Qom, Karaj, Kermanshah and Tabriz. A strike on a school killed 24 people, an Iranian provincial official said. Explosions were also heard near Kharg Island, through which Iran exports about 90 percent of its crude oil. Iranian state television reported mobile phone lines cut in parts of western and eastern Tehran and weakened internet connectivity. International monitors noted a near-total media blackout.
Israeli media reported that Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian were among the targets, though an Iranian source said Khamenei had been moved to a secure location outside Tehran. Iranian officials said Pezeshkian was “safe and sound.” Iran’s Defense Minister Amir Nasirzadeh and Revolutionary Guards commander Mohammed Pakpour were believed killed in the strikes, according to sources, though the Fars news agency reported that senior officials, including Pezeshkian, parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and security chief Ali Larijani, were “in perfect health.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on X: “Netanyahu and Trump’s war on Iran is wholly unprovoked, illegal, and illegitimate.” He added that Trump had turned “America First” into “Israel First — which always means ‘America Last.’” Araghchi said Iran’s armed forces “are prepared for this day and will teach the aggressors the lesson they deserve.”
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the escalation on X. “The use of force by the United States & Israel against Iran, and the subsequent retaliation by Iran across the region, undermine international peace & security,” he said. “I call for an immediate cessation of hostilities & de-escalation. Failing to do so risks a wider regional conflict with grave consequences for civilians & regional stability.”
In Pakistan, political leaders added their voices. Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari called the Israeli attack “cowardly” and an attempt “to cover up its atrocities in Gaza,” urging the United Nations and Organization of Islamic Cooperation to stop the aggression and take notice of the violation of Iran’s sovereignty. Jamaat-e-Islami chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman described the joint US-Israeli action as “open terrorism” and accused the United States of using negotiations as deception. “Donald Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ is in fact a ‘Board of War,’” he said, warning that Muslim rulers should “open their eyes” after 25 years of chaos in the region and reminding Pakistan’s leaders that “the United States is no one’s friend.”
The crisis followed the collapse of indirect US-Iran talks renewed in February. Iran has repeatedly said it has never sought nuclear weapons and was prepared to discuss curbs on its program in exchange for sanctions relief, but ruled out linking the issue to its missile program. Israel had insisted any deal must dismantle Tehran’s nuclear infrastructure entirely and include missile restrictions. The latest escalation revived memories of a 12-day air war between Israel and Iran in June, during which the United States joined strikes on Iranian nuclear sites and Iran fired missiles toward the US base at Al Udeid in Qatar.
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