“Pakistan stands for peace and is making all-out efforts for regional peace,” he added. The army spokesperson noted that Islamabad played a significant role in the Afghan peace process but the regional situation had changed due to Soleimani’s assassination.
He said the army chief had emphasised reducing regional tensions in his conversation with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo after the attack. Gen Qamar has stressed that the tension between Tehran and Washington should de-escalate and the region should refrain from another war, the DG ISPR said.
Earlier, Foreign Office spokesperson Aisha Farooqui also expressed deep concern over the escalating tensions in the Middle East. “Pakistan has viewed with deep concern the recent developments in the Middle East, which seriously threaten peace and stability in the region.”
The Foreign Office called for restraint and urged Tehran and Washington to avoid unilateral actions and use of force.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration authorised the resumption of Islamabad’s participation in a US military training and educational programme to strengthen military-to-military cooperation on shared priorities and “advance US national security”.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Hassan Rouhani have promised to avenge Soleimani’s death and declared three days of mourning on Friday.
Tens of thousands of people marched in Iraq on Saturday to mourn Soleimani and al-Muhandis, chanting “Death to America”.
On Saturday evening, a rocket fell inside Baghdad’s heavily-fortified Green Zone near the US embassy, another hit the nearby Jadriya neighbourhood and two more were fired at the Balad air base north of the city, but no one was killed, the Iraqi military said in a statement.
Hours later, US President Donald Trump threatened to hit 52 Iranian sites “very hard” if Iran attacks Americans or US assets.
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Sunday discussed escalating tensions in the Middle East with his counterparts in Saudi Arabia, Iran, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Turkey.
In wide-ranging exchange of views on the unfolding situation in the region following the killing of Iran’s top commander Maj Gen Qassem Soleimani by United States on Friday, Qureshi highlighted Islamabad’s deep concern over the recent developments.
The foreign minister underscored the imperative of avoidance of conflict, exercise of maximum restraint, and de-escalation of tensions during the conversations, said a statement issued by the Foreign Office.Qureshi renewed the call on all parties concerned to abide by the UN charter and principles of international law to settle differences through peaceful means.
“Pakistan will neither let its soil be used against any other state nor would it become part of any regional conflict,” he maintained.
Sharing Pakistan’s perspective, the foreign minister expressed the hope that the progress made in the Afghan peace process would be preserved and further advanced.
Foreign Minister Qureshi also reiterated Pakistan’s readiness to continue to play a role in preventing further escalation and maintaining regional peace and stability.
Tags:
Defence