Overview
- Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir has visited Tehran twice this month, most recently on Monday with Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and Turkey's intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin.
- The military's public spokesman, Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, described Islamabad as 'cautiously optimistic' about the mediation but refused to disclose what was discussed or whether the United States backed the trips.
- Chaudhry said the August 7 Makkah joint defence pact does not bar new members and suggested Iran could be welcomed if the three parties' political leadership agrees.
- Pakistan reiterated its commitment to defend Saudi Arabia and the holy sites of Mecca and Medina, while insisting it is not a party to the Yemen conflict with the Iran-aligned Houthi movement.
- Officials warned there are still 'powerful spoilers' who benefit from continued fighting, and Pakistan's mediation is unfolding alongside domestic security moves such as the October suspension of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's provincial government, which could affect Islamabad's freedom to negotiate.