Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday chaired a high-level security meeting to assess rapidly evolving regional developments, including contingency plans to evacuate Pakistani citizens from Iran, as Islamabad stepped up diplomatic outreach amid escalating Middle East hostilities.&nbsp;&ldquo;On the instructions of the Prime Minister, steps were also reviewed to evacuate Pakistani citizens from Iran,&rdquo; the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office said in a statement following the meeting, adding that relevant institutions had been directed to remain on high alert.&nbsp;The review came as tensions surged after coordinated US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran, followed by Iranian retaliatory attacks across the Gulf. Iranian authorities have confirmed the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the strikes, a development that has further heightened regional uncertainty.&nbsp;Alongside security deliberations, Sharif held a series of telephone calls with regional leaders, stressing restraint, respect for international law and renewed diplomacy.&nbsp;In a call with Bahrain&rsquo;s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the prime minister discussed Iran&rsquo;s retaliatory attacks on Gulf states and warned that &ldquo;unprovoked acts of aggression only escalate the situation and threaten the peace and stability of the entire region,&rdquo; according to the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office. He assured Bahrain of Pakistan&rsquo;s firm solidarity and urged maximum restraint.&nbsp;Sharif also spoke with Jordan&rsquo;s King Abdullah II, exchanging views on what officials described as serious regional developments following the Israeli strikes on Iran and subsequent attacks on Jordan and other regional countries.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2028103182011044242&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Flogin%2F&sessionId=c03f0f67be018117067fd503da9d35e516998247&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 369px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2028103182011044242"></iframe></div></div>&nbsp;PM Sharif expressed deep concern over the escalation and emphasized the urgent need for de-escalation, dialogue and regional coordination to preserve stability.&nbsp;Separately, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar spoke with Oman&rsquo;s Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi. Both sides voiced serious concern over the unfolding crisis and underscored the need for restraint and continued diplomatic engagement, agreeing to remain in close contact.&nbsp;During the security meeting, the prime minister was also briefed on Afghanistan-related developments and Pakistan&rsquo;s internal preparedness, as tensions persist along the western border.&nbsp;Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Pakistani forces continue operations launched earlier this week in response to unprovoked Afghan Taliban fire across the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. In a post on X, Tarar said Pakistani forces had inflicted heavy losses, including militant casualties and the destruction of multiple positions, claims that could not be independently verified.&nbsp;The meeting was attended by Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, federal ministers, senior civil officials and military commanders.

Security

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif chaired a high-level meeting on regional tensions, reviewing evacuation plans for citizens in Iran, Afghan border security, and ongoing Operation 'Ghazab lil-Haq'.

Pakistan PM reviews regional crisis, Iran evacuation as diplomacy intensifies

ISLAMABAD: The Iranian embassy in Pakistan released a condemnation statement on Sunday, following the assassination of Iran&rsquo;s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. It stated: &ldquo;The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Pakistan categorically condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the cowardly, hideous and barbaric terrorist act of targeting the leadership of the Islamic Republic of Iran.&rdquo; It praised the leader and his ideology, saying, &ldquo;Recalling the bravery, resistance, steadfastness, and lifelong devotion of the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, to the ideals of independence, dignity, and resistance, we reaffirm our unwavering solidarity with the noble aspirations of the Islamic Revolution and our firm commitment to its enduring principles and emphasize that we will stand by the eternal aspirations of this Great Martyr until our last breath and the last droplet of our blood.&rdquo; The embassy paid tribute to the lineage and steadfastness of Ayatollah Khamenei, saying, &ldquo;Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei was a great historical figure who, like his Great Ancestor, Imam Hussein (PBUH), was martyred bravely alongside his innocent family at the hands of the most despicable, vicious and cowardly elements in Karbala and did not surrender and succumb.&rdquo; The statement mentioned the history of Iranian land and said that, &ldquo;The blood of the Great Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, made the ever-green sapling of the Islamic Republic more fertile and resilient. The struggles of this Great Martyr and tireless scholar will forever be recorded in history and will be a model for the free people of the world.&rdquo; &ldquo;It emphasizes that the Islamic Republic of Iran is founded upon strong constitutional institutions and well-established legal mechanisms. Relying on the solid structure established by the great Imams of the Islamic Revolution, relying on the blood of martyrs, in any circumstance, the country will, in full accordance with its Constitution, ensure continuity of leadership and governance with unity, resilience, and steadfast determination and the Islamic Republic of Iran will elect its new leadership and courageously and steadfastly continue on its spiritual and humane path ever after.&rdquo;

Middle East

The Iranian embassy in Pakistan released a condemnation statement on Sunday, following the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Articles tagged with "Iran-US Conflict"

Pakistan PM reviews regional crisis, Iran evacuation as diplomacy intensifies

Iranian embassy condemns Israel's 'terrorist act' against Ayatollah Khamenei

Pakistan PM reviews regional crisis, Iran evacuation as diplomacy intensifies