ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has convened an important meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) on Monday to discuss the situation after US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, local media reported on Sunday.
The NSC is a principal forum of the country that is mandated to consider national security and foreign policy matters.
According to media reports, the NSC meeting will be attended by both the civil and military leadership of Pakistan. Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir will brief participants on his recent visit to the United States, local media reported.
Senior cabinet members including Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and other top officials will also attend the meeting.
The meeting is expected to include detailed consultations on the escalating Iran-US tensions, with possible major decisions regarding Pakistan’s support for Iran and other strategic matters, local media reported.
The meeting will also review internal and border security situations. The meeting is scheduled for 12 pm at the Prime Minister’s House.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a telephone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, discussing critical issues related to the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict.
According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s House, the leaders exchanged views on various matters concerning the conflict.
PM Sharif strongly condemned the recent US attacks on Iran following Israeli aggression, reaffirming Pakistan’s unwavering solidarity with the Iranian government and its people.
Expressing deep condolences for the loss of precious lives, the prime minister prayed for the swift recovery of those injured in the attacks, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.
The prime minister expressed concerns that the US strikes had targeted facilities that were under the safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
These attacks constituted a serious violation of international law and the IAEA Statute, PM Sharif added.
While noting Iran’s right to self-defence as enshrined under Article 51 of the UN Charter, the prime minister stressed the need to immediately return to dialogue and diplomacy as the only viable path forward.
He also called for urgent collective efforts to de-escalate the situation.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated Pakistan’s readiness to play a constructive role in this context.
