ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan’s quiet but intensive diplomatic efforts played a crucial role in preventing a potentially devastating regional conflict between the Muslim countries, security sources revealed on Tuesday, as preparations enter the final phase for the signing of a landmark Iran-US peace deal in Switzerland later this week.
At a background briefing with reporters, senior security officials offered rare insight into Islamabad’s role in facilitating diplomacy between the two long-time adversaries, while maintaining strict confidentiality about the content of the agreement and future negotiations.
The briefing came days before the formal signing ceremony scheduled for June 19 in Switzerland, where representatives of Iran and the United States are expected to formally agree to “a historic understanding” aimed at ending months of escalating tensions and reducing the risk of a wider Middle East conflict.
The security sources said Pakistan’s involvement was not driven by narrow geopolitical interests, but by a broader goal of ensuring regional stability and preserving unity in the Muslim world.
According to officials, Pakistan’s civilian and military leadership remained engaged with all relevant stakeholders throughout the crisis and worked quietly behind the scenes to prevent a conflict that could have engulfed the wider region.
“Through consultation and cooperation with all key stakeholders, Pakistan helped save the region from a major war which was planned to be imposed and would have had serious consequences,” a senior security source told reporters.
The officials highlighted in particular the role played by Field Marshal Asim Munir, describing the diplomatic effort as an example of strategic success achieved without military confrontation. “This was a war won through sincerity, competence, brilliance and the blessings of Allah for the greater good of humanity without actually being fought. It is the pinnacle of strategy,” a security source noted.
While emphasizing Pakistan’s contribution, officials repeatedly cautioned against speculation about the content of ongoing talks, saying the diplomatic process remained sensitive and required discretion. “As a responsible mediator, Pakistan cannot afford speculation. We will not discuss the content of talks or what comes next,” the source said.
The officials acknowledged that attempts to derail the peace process could continue even after the agreement is signed. “Spoilers and detractors will continue to try to undermine peace efforts, but Pakistan will continue to work with partners in utmost sincerity to pursue peace,” a source said.
The briefing also credited several Muslim countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, for helping to create conditions conducive to dialogue. The officials praised Riyadh’s leadership, restraint and strategic patience during a period of heightened regional tensions.
“Great credit goes to Muslim countries, especially Saudi Arabia, which showed leadership, restraint and strategic patience to help avoid a war that could have engulfed the region and pitted Muslim against Muslim,” the source said.
Security officials also defended Pakistan’s expanding military diplomacy and engagement with friendly countries, arguing that such relations should not be viewed through a narrow lens. “Military diplomacy and relations with friendly countries are part of wider statecraft and national interests. They cannot be seen in isolation,” the source added while responding to a question about the recent visit by the Lebanese army chief.
During the briefing, security sources said terrorism and Afghanistan had become “inseparable realities” in the current regional environment. According to them, security forces and law enforcement agencies conducted 32,092 intelligence-based and counter-terrorism operations across the country this year as part of an intensified campaign against militant groups.
The sources claimed that 2,170 terrorist incidents had taken place with the backing and support of the Afghan Taliban regime. As a result of the operations, 1,861 terrorists were killed while 640 Pakistani security personnel lost their lives in the line of duty.
“The statistics clearly show how Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan, operating under the patronage of the Afghan Taliban regime, have emerged as major threats to Pakistan’s national security,” the source said.
Defending Pakistan’s engagement with Kabul, the official maintained that Islamabad’s diplomatic contacts with Afghanistan had remained transparent and structured, centered on a single core demand: an immediate end to the support, facilitation and shelter given to terrorist groups.
The official said Pakistan had pursued dialogue with the current Afghan administration from 2021 to 2025 through multiple channels in an effort to resolve disputes peacefully. However, these efforts failed to yield meaningful results due to what Islamabad viewed as the Taliban regime’s continued unwillingness to act against terrorist organizations operating from Afghan soil.
“The Afghan Taliban repeatedly demonstrated a lack of seriousness in preventing the use of Afghan territory for terrorism and in ending support for militant groups,” the official said. As a result, Pakistan eventually decided to target terrorist hideouts across the border, the official revealed, insisting that all cross-border military and air operations were conducted with “extreme precision” and based on credible intelligence.
The official also launched a scathing criticism of the Taliban administration, accusing it of having little respect for human rights, particularly the rights of women and children.
After decades of engagement with the Taliban movement, Pakistan had come to the conclusion that the current regime was committed to enforcing what the official described as a distorted interpretation of Islam.
“The regime’s irresponsible and violent behavior leaves little room for meaningful diplomatic engagement,” the official noted, adding that Pakistan’s only demands remained the dismantling of the terror infrastructure and the end of all forms of support, sanctuary and facilitation for militants operating against Pakistan.
Kashmir remains a central issue
During the briefing, officials also touched on developments in Kashmir and reiterated Pakistan’s longstanding position on the disputed territory. The security sources described Kashmir as the “unfinished agenda of partition” and stressed that the dispute remained central to regional peace and stability.
The officials recalled that the 1948 conflict was fought jointly by Pakistani forces, Kashmiri fighters and tribal volunteers, while noting that several wars and military confrontations had since taken place over the territory.
According to the security sources, India’s efforts to promote development projects and economic incentives in the Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) would not change the aspirations of the Kashmiri people. “Development packages and subsidies cannot buy the sentiments of the people of Kashmir,” a source said.
Officials further argued that demographic changes and legal measures introduced by India could not wipe out Kashmiris’ right to self-determination. The security sources described the occupied territory as one of the most militarized regions in the world and stressed that public frustration remained rife in the IIOJK despite Delhi’s claims of normalcy.
Concerns over unrest in AJK
The officials also accused India of trying to create instability in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) to divert attention from challenges in the occupied territory. In the context of recent unrest in AJK, security officials defended the government’s handling of protests and accused certain groups of pursuing agendas beyond legitimate public grievances.
According to the briefing, authorities initially engaged with protest groups through dialogue and sought to address concerns through democratic means. The officials said elements of the movement had since revealed goals that went beyond public welfare issues.
“The government adopted a democratic and conciliatory approach throughout. However, some elements opted for violence, arson and confrontation instead,” a security source claimed. The officials stressed that no group would be allowed to challenge the state’s subpoena by force and warned that any attempt to exploit public issues for outside agendas would be dealt with under the law.
The security sources also defended the constitutional framework for refugee representation and other political arrangements related to the Kashmir dispute, saying such conditions could not be changed through coercion.
Water Security and Indus Treaty
The security sources recalled the statement of the National Security Committee (NSC) issued on April 24, 2025, which described water as a vital national interest and pledged to protect it through the full spectrum of national power.
The officials argued that Pakistan’s economy, agriculture and food security were deeply dependent on water resources, making the issue a matter of national survival. “Pakistan’s economic and social fabric is closely linked to water, agriculture and food security. Whatever needs to be done to protect these interests will be done,” a security source said.
While stressing Pakistan’s military preparedness, the officials maintained that Islamabad had simultaneously launched a robust diplomatic and legal campaign against Indian violations of the treaty. At the same time, security sources acknowledged the need for better wastewater management.
“Regardless of military capabilities, Pakistan needs to invest in water conservation, storage facilities, canals and improved regulatory structures,” the official said, adding that Indian rhetoric around water was largely driven by domestic political considerations and efforts to maintain anti-Pakistan narratives.
In a scathing assessment of bilateral relations, the sources said India had failed to achieve its objectives both militarily and diplomatically after “Marka-e-Haq” and was now increasingly relying on bogus rhetoric for political messages.
