Strong ties with the United States will not mean unconditional support for its policies, especially when they are unfair, said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar Friday.
The briefing press in Islamabad emphasized deputy PM that Pakistan was aware that Iran would not remain passive after the United States bombed three of its nuclear facilities.
Dar spoke with reference to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting, where the 12-day Iran-Israel war was a primary topic of discussion.
He highlighted Pakistan’s efforts to ensure that a special session was held on Iran, which was agreed by the Foreign Ministers of the OIC Member States.
Dar also noted that Pakistan had been in constant communication with Iranian officials, including discussions between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Iranian leadership.
During the briefing, Dar explained that Iran had praised Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts in both the United Nations Security Council and their parliament.
He shared details of an important meeting in Istanbul, which took place during a visit by Pakistan’s head of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, who was participated by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and other Turkish leaders to tackle the situation in Iran.
Dar said Pakistan, after the US attack on Iran, had been informed by Tehran that although Iran was not developing nuclear weapons, it could not ignore the US attack and would retaliate. Iran’s response led to an attack on a US airbase in Qatar.
Dar made it clear that although Pakistan appreciates his relationship with the United States, it does not mean to adapt to Washington on each topic, especially when it comes to unfair military actions.
He repeated Pakistan’s obligation to a peaceful decision and its efforts to ensure that the ceasefire holds.
