Pakistan Army Expresses Cautious Optimism on Iran-US Mediation, Welcomes Potential Defense Pact Expansion
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, Pakistan’s military spokesperson, Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, revealed on Friday in his first interview since a high-level Pakistani delegation visited Tehran this week that the army holds ‘cautious optimism’ about mediating between Iran and the United States. Reuters reported that Army Chief General Asim Munir, Islamabad’s chief mediator in de-escalation efforts concerning the eight-month conflict involving Iran, has visited Tehran twice this month. His latest trip on Monday included representatives from Turkey and Saudi Arabia.
Responding to a question about the positive nature of these visits, Chaudhry stated, ‘If there were no signs of positivity, why would the Chief of Army Staff travel to Tehran twice? So, yes, absolutely.’ The military official, who also serves as the Director-General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) of Pakistan’s armed forces, added, ‘The term we always use is cautious optimism.’
When asked about the possibility of Iran joining the defense treaty signed by Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan, Chaudhry indicated that the terms of the agreement do not present obstacles to accepting new members. ‘Any country that has a common vision for collective deterrence and regional peace, why not? Everyone will be welcomed,’ he elaborated. He also noted that the decision-making power on this matter rests with the political leaders of the three core member countries.
In response to another question regarding the potential deployment of more Pakistani military personnel to Saudi Arabia under the aforementioned agreement, the Pakistan Army spokesperson stated that this would depend on the prevailing circumstances and the will of the political leaders of both nations. He emphasized Islamabad’s commitment to safeguarding Saudi Arabia and the holy Islamic sites located in Medina and Mecca.
Meanwhile, Chaudhry pointed out that his country is not involved in the Yemen conflict, considering it an internal challenge for that nation. He further acknowledged the continued activity of ‘powerful deterrent factors and opponents’ who benefit from the prolonged conflict, though he declined to name these actors. Speaking from Rawalpindi, the headquarters of the Pakistani armed forces, the military official refrained from providing further details on the consultations during the Pakistani delegation’s visit to the Iranian capital or whether Washington supported the trip.
