Overview
- Pakistan publicly called for restraint at the United Nations and in domestic briefings, with Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad urging parties to "give peace a little more chance."
- The appeal follows a sharp escalation in US–Iran hostilities after Iranian forces shot down a US Apache helicopter and both sides have since exchanged strikes.
- Islamabad is actively pursuing shuttle diplomacy, having hosted the first face-to-face US–Iran talks in decades and sending senior officials on recent visits and calls to Tehran, Washington and regional capitals.
- Pakistani officials warned the renewed fighting risks reversing a fragile Israel–Lebanon ceasefire and has already hindered the IAEA’s ability to carry out verification work on Iran’s nuclear file.
- Officials said Pakistan is balancing these crisis efforts with other urgent diplomacy, including talks to free Pakistanis held in Somalia and coordination with Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and China to broaden mediation options.