Pakistan won’t allow its airspace to be used against Iran
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday reiterated that it will not allow its airspace or territory to be used against Iran, reaffirming its long-standing position amid escalating regional tensions.
Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi, addressing his weekly press briefing, said Pakistan remains firmly committed to regional peace and stability and is closely monitoring the evolving situation in Iran while continuously assessing developments in the wider region.
“As a neighbouring, friendly and brotherly country, Pakistan wants a peaceful solution to the situation in Iran,” Andrabi said, adding that Islamabad believes the Iranian nation will overcome the current challenges with wisdom and resilience.
He stressed that Pakistan seeks dialogue and diplomacy to address regional issues and has previously played a constructive role in facilitating talks related to Iran’s nuclear negotiations.
The spokesperson also said that Pakistan has issued a travel advisory in view of the prevailing situation in Iran, noting that the situation has deteriorated amid the country’s ongoing economic crisis.
During the briefing, Andrabi also informed that Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif received a telephone call from the Amir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, during which recent developments in the Middle East were discussed.
He said the prime minister appreciated Qatar’s proactive and constructive role in promoting peace, dialogue and mediation across the region, and acknowledged Doha’s efforts to help defuse tensions through diplomatic means. Both leaders agreed to remain in close contact in the coming days.
Meanwhile, Tehran has warned neighbouring countries hosting US troops that it would retaliate against American bases if Washington carries out threats to intervene in protests in Iran, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Wednesday.
According to diplomats, some personnel have been advised to leave the main US air base in the region, although there were no immediate signs of a large-scale evacuation similar to that seen before last year’s Iranian missile attack.
US President Donald Trump has threatened to intervene in support of protesters in Iran, where a rights group has claimed that around 2,600 people have been killed in recent days during a crackdown on one of the largest protest movements against clerical rule.
An Israeli official said that, according to an Israeli assessment, President Trump has decided to intervene, though the scope and timing of any action remain unclear.
