World

Pakistan Army Remains Cautiously Optimistic About US‑Iran Mediation

By Reuters

Pakistan’s military spokesman said the army is “cautiously optimistic” about mediation efforts between Iran and the United States as regional countries work to revive a ceasefire in the eight‑month‑old war. Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, spokesman for the armed forces, noted positive signs in attempts to de‑escalate the conflict. His remarks to Reuters were the first since a high‑level delegation visited Tehran this week.

Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, Pakistan’s chief mediator, has visited Tehran twice this month, most recently on Monday, accompanied by Saudi and Turkish officials. Chaudhry said the repeated trips suggest some positivity, adding that the army’s stance is “cautiously optimistic.” He also warned that there are “powerful spoilers and detractors” who believe the conflict serves their interests, though he did not name them.

Speaking in Rawalpindi, the garrison city where the armed forces are headquartered, Chaudhry declined to disclose details of discussions in Tehran or whether the United States had supported the trip. His comments came as Qatari mediators arrived in Tehran in another attempt to negotiate a revival of the June ceasefire that collapsed months later.

Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin joined Munir in Tehran on Monday. The three countries signed a joint defence pact with Pakistan on August 7, stating that an attack on any signatory would be treated as an attack on all. The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement has gained importance as the Iran war has reshaped regional alliances and raised concerns about a broader Middle East conflict.

After Monday’s talks, Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said regional security should be ensured by regional countries without foreign intervention. Chaudhry said the pact does not preclude new members; anyone who shares a vision of collective deterrence and regional peace is welcome, subject to the political leadership of the three principal parties.

When asked whether more Pakistani troops would be sent to Saudi Arabia under the agreement, Chaudhry said it would depend on the situation and the decision of both countries’ political leadership. He reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to defending Saudi Arabia and the holy sites of Mecca and Medina, adding that Pakistan is not involved in the Yemeni conflict, which is an intra‑Yemen dispute. The fighting between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Iran‑aligned Houthi group has been reignited by the Iran conflict, raising fears of a wider war.