‘Pakistan adopts cautious approach over ME issue’

Islamabad : Dr Qamar Cheema from National University of Modern Languages has said that Pakistan adopted a cautious approach towards the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Dr Qamar was speaking at a webinar on “Iran-Israel military conflict” organised here by Institute or Regional Studies. Dr Cheema argued that Iran broke the myth of Israel's invincibility. At the societal level, Iran amassed huge public support, he claimed adding that despite attacking Israel, it was logistically very difficult for Iran to further continue the retaliation. Elaborating, he said that the Middle Eastern region did not want to become the hostage of Palestinian issue whereas the Arab states would welcome any step towards normalisation with Israel.

The speaker analysed that if Saudi-Israel normalisation would take place, it would not adversely impact the recently concluded Iran-Saudi rapprochement. While clarifying, Dr Cheema said that the Iran-Israel confrontation was not seen through international legal perspective and western states did not condemn the Israeli aggression over Iranian embassy in Damascus. Afzal Reza, the bureau chief of Iranian news agency, IRNA in Islamabad, accused that since Oct 7 attack, Israel was provoking Iran to expand the conflict. He vowed that Iran's attack on Israel was a punishment and it broke the hoax of Israel's deterrence. While stressing on de-escalation, Mr Reza claimed that no state wanted war, however, Israel's strategy was to encircle Iran through befriending its neighbours. He pointed towards the dual standards of international community by outlining that UNSC did not condemn Israel's aggression against Iran nor did IAEA take any steps against Israeli (cyber) attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities.