Dar says Pakistan should not be drawn into Middle East conflict

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar told the Senate that Pakistan should not become involved in the ongoing war between Iran and the United States and Israel, 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Tuesday.

Delivering a policy statement in the Upper House, Dar said that in response to attacks by the US and Israel, Iran targeted bases it said were linked to the United States. However, he noted that some airstrikes hit airports in Gulf countries, complicating the regional situation.

“We should not fall into this conflict,” he told lawmakers, adding that had Gulf states not been affected, Pakistan could have raised a stronger joint voice against Washington and Tel Aviv. “When an attack takes place, resistance follows, but escalation is not in anyone’s interest,” he said.

Dar reiterated that Pakistan stood “heart and soul” with Iran but was simultaneously working to defuse tensions, stressing that confrontation served no party’s interests. He said Islamabad would continue diplomatic efforts at every international forum to seek a peaceful resolution.

According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, Dar said the United States had demanded the complete dismantling of Iran’s nuclear weapons capability. Pakistan, he said, conveyed to Washington that the peaceful use of nuclear energy was Iran’s right, a position the US acknowledged.

At the same time, Pakistan urged Tehran to resolve outstanding issues through negotiations. Dar informed the house that last year on June 12 he met with the field marshal and separately held discussions with Iran’s foreign minister, who indicated that negotiations were making positive progress and that there was hope for a diplomatic breakthrough.

He said that during Pakistan’s presidency of the United Nations Security Council, several debates were organised on the issue. Iran, he added, had agreed not to pursue nuclear weapons and had assured that it would not develop such arms. In meetings with the US secretary of state, Pakistan also emphasised resolving the crisis through dialogue.

Dar said the Iranian leadership was aware of Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts and that slogans of appreciation were raised in the Iranian parliament in acknowledgement of Islamabad’s role.

He further informed senators that he attended the emergency meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in Jeddah and remained in constant contact via WhatsApp with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

Pakistan condemned the attack on Iran, Dar said, while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued a condolence statement on the martyrdom of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.

Following the attack, Dar said he reached out to foreign ministers across the region and Gulf states, including multiple contacts with the Saudi foreign minister. He also engaged with leaders from 13 countries as well as officials from the European Union.

He added that Pakistan was the only country to condemn the attack within 15 minutes and that he held talks with European officials and representatives of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Austria.

Providing an update on Pakistani nationals, Dar said around 35,000 Pakistanis were currently in Iran. So far, 792 had been brought back through Taftan and other routes, with evacuation efforts continuing.

Two bills passed

The Senate on Tuesday passed two bills including the Daanish University Islamabad Bill, 2026 and The Public Private Partnership Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2022 as reported by the standing committees.

The bills were moved by Minister for Law and Justice, Azam Nazeer Tarar and Senator Mohammad Abdul Qadir in the House respectively.

The house passed both the bills through clause by clause reading. Meanwhile, a new bill the National Database and Registration Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2026 was introduced in the House.

Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar on behalf of minister of Interior Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi introduced the bill in the House.

Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani referred the bill to the concerned standing committee for detailed deliberation.