ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has said Pakistan’s nuclear capability is for deterrence and national security as well as stability in the region.
“Our nuclear capability is essential for regional stability,” he said while speaking in the Senate, the upper house of the country’s Parliament.
Dar said AI-generated video clips are being circulated on social media to spread false and misleading propaganda against Pakistan.
The Deputy Prime Minister noted that a news report, quoting an Iranian General, is making the rounds on social media that Pakistan will attack Israel if the latter uses nukes against Iran. He called such news fake and misleading.
He emphasised the need to remain vigilant of fake news and misinformation. He further clarified that Pakistan has never issued any such statement.
Dar informed the House that so far, 251 Pakistani students have been evacuated from Iran, while the country is handling over 500 pilgrims.
Iran ready for talks
The Deputy Prime Minister told the house that Iran is willing to return to the nuclear negotiations if Israel refrains from further strikes, citing direct communication with his Iranian counterpart after the initial exchange of hostilities.
“Iran’s Foreign Minister [Abbas Araghchi] told me that if Israel does not carry out another attack, they are prepared to return to the negotiating table,” Dar said.
“Our intention was always to see successful negotiations between the United States and Iran,” said the Deputy Prime Minister.
“We conveyed this message to other countries […] there is still time to stop Israel and bring Iran back to talks,” he added.
Iranian Hajj pilgrims
He further added that Pakistan has also given a positive response to Iran’s request to bring back around 20,000 Iranian Hajj pilgrims from Saudi Arabia. He said these pilgrims will be granted a visa on arrival at the Karachi airport. He, however, said Saudi Arabia has also offered them to remain in the country as guests until the current crisis is over.
Armed forces capable of responding to any misadventure
The Deputy Prime Minister, responding to a point of order, said the armed forces of Pakistan are fully aware and capable of responding to any misadventure as they did in the past.
