Pakistan on Thursday strongly condemned Israel’s “unjustified and illegitimate aggression” against Iran, and called on the international community and the United Nations to take immediate steps to uphold international law and hold Tel Aviv accountable for its actions.
“The Israeli military strikes violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iran and clearly contravene the U.N. Charter and fundamental principles of international law,” Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan told a weekly press briefing in Islamabad. “Iran has a right to self-defense under Article 51 of the U.N. Charter,” he added.
Reiterating that Pakistan stood in “resolute solidarity” with the people of Iran, he denounced Israeli aggression as blatant provocations that pose a serious threat to regional and global peace, security, and stability. He said Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar had discussed the prevailing situation with his counterparts from Iran, Turkiye, Egypt, U.A.E. and U.K., adding the foreign leaders had expressed concern over the escalation.
The foreign dignitaries, he said, had agreed on the importance of working together to maintain peace and stability and emphasized the need to de-escalate tensions.
Khan also highlighted the joint statement issued by 21 Muslim countries, rejecting Israel’s aggression against Iran, and calling the actions a breach of international laws and the U.N. Charter. He said Pakistan had a longstanding view that the Middle East should be a zone free of nuclear and major weapons of mass destruction.
To a question on President Donald Trump’s meeting with Field Marshal Asim Munir, and his subsequent statement that “Pakistan is not happy with the situation,” the spokesperson said Pakistan’s delegation had likely conveyed Islamabad’s concerns and stance on the escalating conflict.
Fighting between Iran and Israel entered its seventh day on Thursday with fresh missile strikes reported across southern and central Israel, including a direct hit on a hospital in Beersheba. Israeli officials claimed Iran launched “dozens” of missiles, some of which struck areas near Tel Aviv as well as the Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba.
Iranian officials maintain the target of the missile barrage was a nearby military and intelligence facility, not the hospital.