DG ISPR says Pakistan 'cautiously optimistic' on US-Iran mediation

Pakistan holds a cautiously optimistic view on the ongoing mediation between Iran and the United States, according to the military's spokesman, Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry. This sentiment stems from a recent high-level delegation's visit to Tehran, led by Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, who has made two trips to the country this month. Chaudhry emphasized that the military's visits to Tehran indicate a positive outlook on the talks.

However, Chaudhry cautioned that there are "powerful spoilers and detractors" who believe conflict benefits them, though he did not specify who these individuals are. When asked about the specifics of the discussions or whether the United States had backed the trip, Chaudhry declined to provide further details.

The mediation comes after Saudi Arabia's deeper involvement in the Iran conflict, as highlighted by the Makkah Defence Alliance pact signed on August 7. This agreement stipulates that an armed attack on one member is considered an attack on all, and holds added significance amidst the changing regional alliances and fears of a broader Middle East conflict.

Following the talks, Iran's Supreme National Security Council secretary, Mohsen Rezaei, called for regional security to be ensured through regional countries without foreign intervention. Regarding the possibility of Iran joining the Makkah pact, Chaudhry suggested that anyone with a shared vision of collective deterrence and regional peace is welcome.

The Pakistani military's commitment to defending Saudi Arabia and the holy cities of Makkah and Madina was also affirmed, but Chaudhry clarified that Pakistan is not involved in the Yemen conflict, which is purely internal to Yemen.

Lastly, when questioned about potential enlargement of military-led counter-terrorism operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa following the imposition of emergency and governor's rules, Chaudhry emphasized that Pakistan's counter-terrorism approach is based on intelligence-based operations, and the tempo of these actions would continue to increase.