Pakistan ‘cautiously optimistic’ about efforts to mediate between US, Iran: DG ISPR

Pakistan is hopeful that its diplomatic efforts to ease tensions between Iran and the United States will make progress, but remains wary of those seeking to derail the process, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said on Friday.

In his first interview since a high-level Pakistani delegation travelled to Tehran this week, he described Islamabad’s position as “cautiously optimistic”.

Asked whether the repeated visits by Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir indicated positive developments, he said: “Why would the Field Marshal be going twice if it is not for some positivity? So yes, of course.”

“The word that we would use is always cautiously optimistic,” he added.

Lt Gen Chaudhry warned that there were still “powerful spoilers and detractors” who believed that continued conflict served their interests. He did not identify them.

Speaking in Rawalpindi, the military spokesman did not disclose the subjects discussed during the Tehran visit or say whether Washington had endorsed the diplomatic initiative.

Asked whether Iran could become part of the Makkah pact, Lt Gen Chaudhry said its wording did not prevent other countries from joining.

“Anyone who has a shared vision of collective deterrence and regional peace, why not? Everyone is most welcome,” he said, adding that the political leadership of the three countries would take the decision.

On the possibility of Pakistan sending additional troops to Saudi Arabia under the agreement, he said any such move would depend on the prevailing circumstances and decisions by the political leadership of both countries.

He reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to Saudi Arabia’s defence, including the protection of the holy sites in Makkah and Madina.

“We are not part of the Yemeni conflict, which is an intra-Yemen conflict,” he said.

The DG ISPR also rejected the suggestion that the imposition of emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would lead to wider military campaigns against militants in the province.

He said the army's counter-terrorism strategy was based on intelligence-based operations rather than large-scale campaigns.

“Our counter-terrorism operations are based on what we call IBOs, intelligence-based operations… The tempo of the freedom of action of (those) IBOs will further increase,” he said.