Pakistan Wants to Prevent Further Escalation of Middle East Conflict: DG ISPR

Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has said Pakistan wants a peaceful solution to the Middle East conflict and does not want the war to spread further.

In an interview with CNN, the chief military spokesperson said, “We want that this conflict should not expand horizontally or vertically.”

He added that Pakistan was making efforts to reduce differences between the parties and would continue to do whatever was possible to achieve this goal.

Pakistan Has Been an Honest Broker

Responding to a question about Pakistan’s neutrality amid Iran’s attacks on Saudi Arabia and the involvement of the Iran-aligned Houthis, Lt Gen Chaudhry said Pakistan had acted as an “honest broker”.

He said Pakistan had clearly explained its position to all its partners and friends.

The DG ISPR said Pakistan had openly condemned attacks by Israel and the United States on Iran. He added that Pakistan had also condemned Iran’s attacks on Arab and Gulf countries.

“We do not mince our words. Why? Because we have a stake in regional peace and stability,” he said.

“We tell all that nobody benefits from expanding this war,” the ISPR chief added.

Makkah Defence Agreement Will Be Defensive

Speaking about the Makkah Defence Agreement, Lt Gen Chaudhry said Pakistan was working on the operational deployment of forces.

He said: “Pakistan is delving into the operationalisation of forces, adding that the Makkah Accord will be purely defensive and its implementation will be determined by operational commanders amid numerous security challenges and emerging threats in the region.”

Asked whether Pakistani troops were already present in Saudi Arabia as part of the agreement, he said Pakistani forces had been stationed in the country for decades.

“Pakistani troops have been there for decades […] in Saudi Arabia,” Lt Gen Chaudhry said.

He explained that the agreement was not formed “in a vacuum” and reflected the longstanding diplomatic, political, military and people-to-people relations between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye.

“So I can share with you that Pakistani troops, in multiple capabilities and domains, are already there,” he said.

Three Countries Agree to Deploy Forces

The remarks come after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye agreed to implement their collective defence commitments immediately and ensure the “rapid deployment” of agreed military forces and capabilities in Saudi Arabia.

The decision was taken at an emergency meeting of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement in Riyadh on Monday, according to a joint statement shared by Pakistan’s Foreign Office.

The three countries said the deployment would follow approved arrangements and their respective national laws. The measures aim to improve military readiness, coordination and collective defence capabilities.

The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement was signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye in August. Under the agreement, an armed attack against one member is considered an attack against all.