Pakistan on Thursday expressed “serious concern” on recent attacks targeting sites in Azerbaijan and Turkiye, urging restraint and the need for dialogue and diplomacy.
Following the launch of joint U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran on Feb. 28, the conflict has expanded across the Middle East, with Tehran launching retaliatory strikes on U.S. bases and assets in Gulf nations.
Earlier on Thursday, a kamikaze drone struck an airport building in Azerbaijan’s Nakhichevan, injuring two people. Azerbaijan has blamed Iran, which has denied any role and accused Israel, and threatened retaliatory action.
A day earlier, Turkiye summoned the Iranian ambassador after a missile landed in Turkish territory, with Iran once again denying firing any missile towards Turkiye.
Referring to the two incidents, the Foreign Office said Pakistan expressed “serious concern” over the recent attacks targeting brotherly countries. “These attacks are in clear violation of international law and the principles of inter-state relations and could push the region toward further escalation,” it warned. “While reaffirming Pakistan’s strong solidarity with Turkiye and Azerbaijan, we call for restraint and the use of dialogue and diplomacy to maintain regional peace and stability,” it added.
The President’s Secretariat echoed the statement, with President Asif Ali Zardari also expressing “deep concern over recent reports of missile activity in the region, including projectiles reportedly landing in areas of Turkiye and Azerbaijan.” He warned that such developments risk heightening tensions and urged de-escalation for regional peace and security.
“President Zardari urged all parties concerned to exercise maximum restraint, avoid further escalation and prioritize diplomatic channels to address concerns and differences,” read the statement, adding the president had backed constructive dialogue to reduce tensions.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif similarly issued two separate statements on X, expressing concerns over the attacks targeting Azerbaijan and Turkiye. Condemning both strikes, he expressed solidarity with the people of Turkiye and Azerbaijan.