Islamabad: Amb. A M Shahid (Former Diplomat): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir are trying their best to de-escalate the situation in the Middle East. Our leadership is trying whatever is possible in this connection. In this regard, today President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held a meeting and reviewed the evolving regional situation and its impacts on Pakistan. Pakistan is in contact with all key stakeholders therefore today Prime Minister received phone calls from The President of the European Council Antonio Costa who endorsed Pakistan's peace efforts while reaffirming that the EU supports all diplomatic efforts, aimed at restoring peace and stability in the region. A day earlier, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Egypt have discussed the possible ways to bring an early and permanent end to the war in the region. We hope that in the result of Pakistan's mediation Iran and the US may make some progress toward s peace. On the other hand, there is immense pressure on US President Donald Trump internally as we witnessed mass protest demonstrations in different US cities against Trump's war policies. I think that this pressure will further increase in the coming days. American people are against this war just because of the fact that war is badly affecting their livelihood. Pakistan is the only country in the world which enjoys full support from the regional and international key players in this conflict.
According to Radio Pakistan, Dr. Rasheed Ahmad, an International Relations Expert, noted that the situation in the Middle East is getting more complex with each passing day. He emphasized that commenting on a deadline for ending the war is premature, as it is easy to start a war but difficult to end one. At present, it seems that this war may further expand because Ukrainian President Zelensky paid a visit to Gulf countries and signed a ten-year-long pact with Gulf countries to provide an anti-drone system. Even a small country like Uganda has also offered troops to Gulf Countries against Iran. Moreover, four US Aircraft Carriers are present in the Gulf region. The sole bone of contention for this conflict is the unresolved Palestine issue. Ahmad believes that peace cannot be restored in this region without resolving the Palestine issue. The US and Israel have taken the war to a point from where it is not easy for them to end the war without declaring complete victory over Iran. This is why Pakistan has hoste d talks among foreign ministers from friendly countries in Islamabad to send a clear message to the world that war cannot resolve any issue, so peace is the lone way forward for the resolution of disputes.