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• Dar says Islamabad supports right to peaceful use of atomic energy; reveals US wanted dismantling of nuclear programme
• Claims Saudis spared destruction ‘due to defence pact’
• PTI leader terms Iran attack ‘war of choice’ as PPP cautions against ‘alarmist narratives’
ISLAMABAD: As the death toll in Iran from the US and Israeli strikes topped 500, Pakistan has offered to facilitate talks between Tehran and Washington to end violence, with Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar expressing support for Iran’s right to harness nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
Sharing details about the indirect talks between the US and Iran in the Senate, Mr Dar said Iran had agreed not to build nuclear weapons, but the US was pressing for the complete dismantling of its nuclear programme. He said the Omani foreign minister informed him that progress had been made in Iran-US negotiations and that talks had been moving in a positive direction before the strikes occurred.
Mr Dar said he had shared Tehran’s position during a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, expressing Pakistan’s support for Iran’s right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy. He claimed Islamabad had worked to ensure this position was recognised internationally, including during its presidency of the UN Security Council.
The foreign minister said Pakistan would stand by Iran but would not allow itself to be dragged into a broader regional conflict.
He told lawmakers that around 35,000 Pakistanis were currently in Iran. So far, 792 nationals had been evacuated through the Taftan-Zahedan border crossing, which remained operational, though airspace had been closed. Roads were open and repatriation was continuing by land, he said. Mr Dar said a meeting chaired by the prime minister had decided that diplomatic efforts to ease tensions would continue.
The minister claimed that Iran showed restraint against Saudi Arabia following the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei because of Pakistan’s Strategic Defence Agreement with Riyadh. He said that they had contacted Iran to remind them to keep the defence pact between Pakistan and Riyadh in mind amid this escalation. He said Tehran sought assurances that the Saudi soil would not be used against it, adding the assurance was held out by Saudi Arabia and subsequently conveyed to Iran.
‘War of choice’
PTI parliamentary leader Barrister Syed Ali Zafar warned that the US and Israel were treading an extremely dangerous path and setting a horrific precedent with far-reaching consequences. “If such actions are normalised, it would open the door for states to justify the assassination of presidents, ministers, and officials merely because they are politically opposed or disliked,” he remarked.
He said negotiations between the US and Iran were heading towards a potential resolution before being abruptly abandoned in favour of military action.
He concluded that there was no legal justification for the war and that it was a war of choice, not necessity.
He urged all responsible nations to use every diplomatic and lawful means at their disposal to stop what he described as an illegal war.
Drawing historical parallels, he stated that previous wars, including those in Vietnam, Iraq, Libya, and Syria, were later widely criticised for being based on flawed premises. He urged immediate efforts to de-escalate tensions, saying that peace, legality, and international order must prevail over unilateral force.
Taking the floor, PPP parliamentary leader Sherry Rehman outlined the fundamental principles that must guide Pakistan’s foreign policy amid evolving regional and global challenges with respect to the Iran conflict.
She stated that the first and foremost objective of an effective foreign policy must be the protection of Pakistani citizens.
The second principle, she emphasised, was safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the state, while the third was advancing Pakistan’s national interests in an impartial and balanced manner, alongside condemning attacks wherever they occur.
She reaffirmed that Pakistan continued to maintain deep and constructive relations with Gulf countries and underscored Pakistan’s longstanding policy of brotherhood and cooperation toward Afghanistan. She reiterated that wars were ruthless and could never resolve disputes, emphasising that dialogue remains the only sustainable path forward.
The PPP always raised its voice against injustice, but responsible leadership required ensuring that actions do not alienate friendly or brotherly nations.
She cautioned against alarmist narratives describing the situation as tantamount to a third world war, urging leaders to avoid inflammatory rhetoric. “Public representatives must speak responsibly, as citizens follow their example,” she stressed.
She reaffirmed that Pakistan’s territory is for Pakistani citizens and must not be used against any other country.
She warned that attempts to undermine national unity must be resisted, emphasising that Pakistan’s solidarity and cohesion must prevail above all political differences. Senator Rehman reiterated that any enemy threatening innocent Pakistani lives must be confronted.
Published in Dawn, March 4th, 2026
