PM Shehbaz Sharif has convened an urgent National Security Committee (NSC) meeting in Islamabad after the United States launched airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities over the weekend. With Iran resting on its oil-rich and strategic foundations, Pakistan’s leadership felt compelled to assess the regional upheaval and its wide-ranging implications.
The NSC, bringing together top civilian and military figures such as Field Marshal Asim Munir, is set to convene Monday evening to evaluate fallout from Washington’s aggressive move. Munir, recently returned from talks in the US including discussions with former President Trump, is expected to brief the committee with first-hand observations.
Shehbaz sharply condemned the strikes noting they targeted “facilities under IAEA protection,” and called them a clear infringement of international law. In a phone call with Iran’s President Pezeshkian, he expressed profound solidarity with Tehran and emphasized diplomacy as the only responsible path forward. Pakistan’s Foreign Office echoed this view, warning that the military action risks destabilizing the region further and urging restraint from all parties involved .
The potential for escalation looms large as Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan recently warned that Tehran might retaliate against US bases in the region—heightening the stakes for Islamabad and its strategic posture.
This NSC session is critical. It will determine how Pakistan bolsters diplomatic engagement, positions itself at the UN, and ensures regional stability. President Zardari, voicing broader concern, urged all actors involved to avoid further escalation and to pursue dialogue over conflict.
As the evening meeting unfolds, all eyes will be on Islamabad’s next moves. Will Pakistan choose to mediate, escalate, or maintain a cautious distance? In this moment, the nation stands at a diplomatic crossroads—one that will define its role in a fracturing region.
