Pakistan Official Dismisses Rumors of Being Next Target

ISLAMABAD: On Monday, a top security official denied rumors that Pakistan might be the next country targeted by US-Israeli military action, citing them as “devoid of facts” and propagated by “agents of chaos.”

In a brief given to Dawn, the official claimed that Pakistan was different from Iran in that it was completely connected into the global community and capable of self-defense.

He claimed that “nefarious and vested interests” were being pursued by those disseminating “alarmist narratives.”

His comments coincided with an intensifying Middle East conflict in which the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes against Iran for the second time in eight months. Fears of a wider regional conflict were raised when Tehran replied by attacking Israeli land and US military installations in nearby nations.

There have been rumors and worries that Pakistan would experience similar aggression in the wake of the US-Israeli attacks. Potential spillover effects on nuclear-armed governments in the region have also been the subject of some research from Western think groups.

However, the security official denied any analogy.

According to the brief, he stated, “The misconception that Pakistan is likely to be the next target is devoid of facts and is highly misplaced.”

“Pakistan and Iran are incomparable militarily, as well as in terms of foreign policy, external engagement, and internal dynamics,” he continued.

According to the official, Pakistan valued its relationships with many international players and conducted “a robust foreign policy.” He continued, “We believe in engagement for the sake of stability and prosperity of the people of Pakistan.”

The official said that Pakistan’s connections with the rest of the world were founded on “mutual respect and trust,” which reflects what is commonly referred to as a hedging approach that involves avoiding involvement in bloc politics while balancing ties with Washington, Tehran, and Riyadh.

akistan maintains defense collaboration with Saudi Arabia, economic involvement with the United States, and a working relationship with Iran, with which it shares a long border and limited trade linkages, in contrast to Iran’s antagonistic stance toward the West.

As per officials, the goal of this multi-vector diplomacy is to protect the nation against regional shocks while ensuring economic stability, particularly energy security.