ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s military media wing, ISPR, confirmed late Friday night that the country’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Qamar Javed Bajwa, had received a phone call from the US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, to discuss regional situation after an American attack killed the top commander of Iran’s elite Al Quds force in Baghdad.
Pompeo had already mentioned his conversation with Bajwa in a Twitter post, saying he discussed “US defensive action to kill Qassem Soleimani” with the army chief.
“#Pakistan's Chief of Staff General Bajwa and I spoke today about U.S. defensive action to kill Qassem Soleimani. The #Iran regime’s actions in the region are destabilizing and our resolve in protecting American interests, personnel, facilities, and partners will not waver,” he wrote on Twitter.
Confirming the development, the ISPR announced on social media that the “COAS emphasized the need for maximum restraint and constructive engagement by all concerned to de-escalate the situation in the broader interest of peace and stability. COAS also reiterated the need for maintaining focus on the success of the Afghan Peace Process.”
Prior to the conversation, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed “deep concern” over the recent developments in the Middle East after the US killed the Iranian general.
Major General Qassem Soleimani, a high-profile figure in his country who was thought to be the man behind Tehran’s military influence in the region, was killed in an attack authorized by US President Donald Trump just a few days after the American embassy in Iraq was targeted by pro-Iranian militiamen.
“Pakistan has viewed with deep concern the recent developments in the Middle East, which seriously threaten peace and stability in the region,” said the country’s foreign ministry in an official handout circulated on Friday.
“Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity are the fundamental principles of the UN Charter, which should be adhered to,” the statement continued. “It is also important to avoid unilateral actions and use of force.”
The country’s official statement was in line with its overall policy toward the volatile Middle East region that has witnessed a string of conflicts in the last few decades.
Prime Minister Imran Khan, whose administration has been striving for financial stability and growth, has noted previously that any military escalation in the region can have a profoundly negative impact on his country’s economy.
The foreign ministry in Islamabad on Friday cautioned “all parties" to "exercise maximum restraint, engage constructively to de-escalate the situation, and resolve issues through diplomatic means, in accordance with UN Charter and international law.”
