ALBAWABA- Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar revealed on Tuesday, that Islamabad played a key role in de-escalating tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia amid the ongoing Middle East crisis.
Israeli airstrike hits Qom during clerical body meeting to choose Iran’s next supreme leaderSpeaking to the Senate, Dar said Pakistan urged Iran to respect its Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement with Saudi Arabia while securing assurances that Saudi territory would not be used against Tehran. He credited Pakistan’s mediation for limiting Iranian retaliatory actions against Riyadh and underscored Islamabad’s role in strengthening bilateral and regional security ties.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif labeled Zionism a “threat to humanity,” accusing it of fomenting instability across the Muslim world and extending Israeli influence toward Pakistan’s borders.
Asif linked the February 28 U.S.-Israeli airstrikes that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and over 40 senior Iranian officials to a broader strategy of regional destabilization, asserting that the conflict was “imposed upon” Iran.
The remarks come amid escalating hostilities, as Iran’s retaliatory “Operation True Promise 4” targets U.S. bases and Gulf energy infrastructure, including Qatar’s LNG facilities and Saudi refineries, contributing to a 15% surge in global oil prices.
Pakistan’s statements reflect a delicate balancing act, aiming to maintain regional stability while safeguarding its strategic interests amid the U.S.-Israel-Iran confrontation.
The Saudi-Pakistani Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement, signed on September 17, 2025, in Riyadh by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, formalizes decades of military cooperation.
The pact commits both nations to treat aggression against either as a shared threat and includes joint exercises, intelligence sharing, and coordinated deterrence measures.
While speculation arose regarding a nuclear dimension following Asif’s comments on available capabilities, officials clarified that the framework is defensive, without explicit nuclear provisions.
The agreement bolsters Saudi Arabia’s security amid Iranian threats and enhances Pakistan’s regional influence, though it carries potential risks of involvement in broader Gulf conflicts.
