Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday, chaired a high-level meeting to review the regional and Pakistan’s security situation. The meeting reviewed the regional situation in detail.
The meeting discussed the role of Pakistan and various measures to establish peace in the region. The meeting also reviewed the situation in Afghanistan. The meeting was also briefed on the country’s internal situation and security arrangements.
On the instructions of the Prime Minister, steps were also reviewed to evacuate Pakistani citizens from Iran. A detailed briefing was given by the Foreign Office on the safe return of citizens.
The evacuation of Pakistani citizens from Iran is being made possible through Azerbaijan.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces, Federal Ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Mohsin Naqvi, Azam Nazir Tarar, Ahad Khan Cheema, Attaullah Tarar, Ali Pervaiz Malik, Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi and high-ranking civil and military officials attended the meeting.
Earlier, Shehbaz Sharif said the government and the people of Pakistan join the people of Iran in their hour of grief and sorrow and extend the most sincere condolences on the martyrdom of His Eminence Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.
In a post on X, he said Pakistan also expresses concern over the violation of the norms of international law.
It is an age-old convention that the Heads of State/Government should not be targeted, he stated.
He said, “We pray for the departed soul. May Allah Almighty grant patience and strength to the Iranian people to bear this irreparable loss.”
In view of the recent regional and internal situation, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, after consultation, has decided to postpone his official visit to the Russian Federation.
“The Prime Minister’s visit to Russia is of great significance for advancing the bilateral relations between the two countries; however, given the current situation, the visit has been postponed,” PM Office Media Wing, said in a press statement. A new date for the visit would be decided after mutual consultation.
Separately, Shehbaz Sharif, held a telephone conversation with King of Jordan Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein to discuss the evolving regional situation.
The two leaders exchanged views on the serious regional developments following the recent escalation from the Israeli attack on Iran, which was followed by attacks on Jordan and other regional countries.
The Prime Minister expressed Pakistan’s deep concern over the situation and emphasized the urgent need for restraint, de-escalation, and dialogue to preserve regional peace and stability.
The Prime Minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s solidarity with the Kingdom of Jordan as well as other brotherly countries of the region, during this challenging time, and reiterated Pakistan’s readiness to support all efforts aimed at restoring calm and promoting stability.
He also spoke to King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to discuss the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.
The Prime Minister said that such unprovoked acts of aggression only escalate the situation and threaten the peace and stability of the entire region.
He assured the leadership of Bahrain that Pakistan stood firmly with Bahrain and other brotherly Gulf countries and underscored the need for maximum restraint in this difficult time.
He emphasized the need to preserve the primacy of international law and reiterated that Pakistan would always remain committed to supporting peace efforts and urged all parties to engage in diplomacy and seek a negotiated solution to the crisis.
Separately, President Asif Ali Zardari has expressed profound sorrow over the martyrdom of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and other members of Iran’s senior leadership who were martyred alongside him, and conveyed heartfelt condolences to the Government and people of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The President said that Pakistan stands with the Iranian nation in this moment of grief and shares in their loss.
He observed that the passing of a leader of such stature, along with other senior figures, would be deeply felt across the Muslim world.
The Chairman of Pakistan People’s Party, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, on Sunday expressed his condolences on the martyrdom of Ayatollah Khamenei.
According to a communique, he said that the news of the martyrdom of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran has caused shock not only in Iran but around the world.
He further said that the escalation of tensions between Iran, Israel and the Gulf countries is a serious threat to regional and global peace.