ISLAMABAD, Jun 19 (Alliance News): Pakistan on Thursday strongly condemned what it termed as “unjustified and illegitimate” Israeli military aggression against Iran, urging the international community and the United Nations to immediately halt the attacks and hold Israel accountable for violating international law.
At a weekly press briefing, Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said the Israeli strikes were a violation of Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and contravened the UN Charter.
“Iran has the right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter,” he stated, adding that Pakistan stood in “resolute solidarity” with the Iranian people.
He warned that such provocations pose a grave threat to regional and global peace, with potentially serious consequences for the stability of the Middle East.
Referring to growing global concern, the FO spokesperson mentioned that the foreign ministers of over 20 Muslim and Arab nations — including Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, the UAE, Turkey, and Pakistan — have condemned the Israeli attacks since June 13, calling for respect for national sovereignty and peaceful conflict resolution.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar held telephonic discussions with foreign ministers of Iran, Turkiye, Egypt, UAE, and the UK. The discussions focused on efforts to de-escalate regional tensions and reaffirmed the need for collective action to maintain peace and stability.
Meanwhile, the FO also reported on other key diplomatic developments. On June 17, Foreign Secretary Ambassador Amna Baloch inaugurated a regional consultation on responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the military domain in Islamabad. She highlighted how AI is reshaping modern warfare, warning that legal and political frameworks are lagging behind.
On June 14, DPM Ishaq Dar chaired a meeting to assess Pakistan’s ongoing humanitarian assistance to Palestinians. He expressed grave concern over the worsening conditions in Gaza and the West Bank due to Israel’s human rights violations.
Additionally, the FO noted preparations for the upcoming 12th session of the Pakistan-UAE Joint Ministerial Commission, scheduled for June 24 in Abu Dhabi, and shared that the fifth round of Pakistan-EU dialogue on non-proliferation and disarmament was held on June 12, with comprehensive discussions on global peace and strategic stability.
On the issue of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), Shafqat Ali Khan condemned the continued restrictions placed on Muslims during Eid-ul-Adha, including the prevention of Eid prayers at Srinagar’s Jama Masjid and Eidgah and the house arrest of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. He urged India to respect the Kashmiri people’s basic rights and allow them to exercise their right to self-determination as per UN Security Council resolutions.
