Pakistan denies military request from Iran, backs Tehran's right to self-defence
Pakistan on Thursday clarified that it has not received any request from Iran for military assistance in its escalating conflict with Israel, even as it reiterated strong moral and diplomatic support for Tehran's right to self-defence under international law.'Pakistan's position on Iran is clear and transparent: We provide full moral support to Iran; we strongly condemn the aggression against Iran,' Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan told reporters at the weekly briefing.advertisementKhan firmly stated that 'no request has been received from Tehran to provide asylum to Iranian refugees in Pakistan,' nor had Iran sought 'any kind of military assistance so far.'
"Iran has the right to defend itself under the UN Charter," Khan said.The spokesperson noted that twenty-one Muslim countries rejected the Israeli aggression against Iran in a joint statement, calling the Israeli actions against international law and the UN Charter.Pakistan's clarification comes amid growing regional anxiety as fighting between Iran and Israel shows signs of intensifying, triggering fears of a wider Middle East conflict.The spokesperson said that the situation in Iran was a cause for grave concern for Pakistan and asked for an ending to the Israeli attacks.He also said that Pakistan supported a negotiated resolution to the Iran-Israel conflict.advertisementDeputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has held a series of diplomatic calls with counterparts in Iran, Turkey, Egypt, the UAE, and the United Kingdom. 'Dar emphasised that Israeli actions against Iran can have dangerous effects in the region and beyond,' Khan said.The spokesperson also stressed that targeting Iranian nuclear facilities was a violation of IAEA safeguards and other international laws.He also said that the Pakistani Embassy in Tehran and the consulates in Mashhad and Zahedan were assisting in the evacuation of Pakistani nationals. He added that so far 3,000 Pakistanis have been brought back.With inputs from PTITune InTrending Reel
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