RAWALPINDI: Pakistan remains cautiously optimistic about its efforts to facilitate dialogue between Iran and the United States, Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said on Friday.
In his first interview following a high-level Pakistani delegation’s visit to Tehran earlier this week, the military spokesman described the recent diplomatic engagements as an encouraging development.
Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, who is leading Pakistan’s mediation efforts to ease the eight-month-long Iran conflict, has travelled to Tehran twice this month, most recently on Monday alongside senior Saudi and Turkish officials.
Responding to a question about whether the visits indicated progress, Chaudhry said the army chief’s repeated trips suggested there were positive developments.
“Why would the Field Marshal be going twice if it is not for some positivity? So yes, of course,” he remarked.
However, he stressed that Islamabad remained “cautiously optimistic”, pointing to the presence of influential elements seeking to undermine efforts towards peace.
The DG ISPR refrained from disclosing details of the discussions held in Tehran or confirming whether Washington had supported the latest diplomatic mission.
Defence pact open to new members
The recent Tehran visit also involved Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin.
Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement on August 7, committing themselves to treating an attack on any signatory as an attack against all three countries.
Asked whether Iran could become part of the arrangement, Chaudhry said the agreement did not restrict membership to the existing signatories.
“Anyone who has a shared vision of collective deterrence and regional peace, why not? Everyone is most welcome,” he said, adding that any decision on expansion would rest with the political leadership of the three countries.
Following Monday’s talks, Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, emphasised that regional countries should take responsibility for ensuring security without outside interference.
The DG ISPR also addressed questions about the possible deployment of additional Pakistani troops to Saudi Arabia under the defence arrangement. He said any such move would depend on the prevailing circumstances and decisions by the political leadership of both countries.
Reaffirming Islamabad’s commitment to Riyadh, Chaudhry said Pakistan would stand by Saudi Arabia in defending its territory and the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.
He, however, clarified that Pakistan had no involvement in Yemen’s internal conflict, describing it as an intra-Yemeni matter.
