Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UAE has told Arabian Business that potential implications of a war between Israel and Iran would be “catastrophic” and “devastating” for Pakistan and its people.
As tensions of a regional war in the Middle East continue to intensify, Pakistan Ambassador to the UAE, Faisal Niaz Tirmizi said they are “extremely wary” of the conflict widening and impacting an already beleaguered Pakistan.
“Pakistan has suffered a lot because of the 45-year-old conflict in Afghanistan, so we are extremely, extremely wary of the widening of conflict between Israel and Iran. That would be catastrophic,” the Pakistani Ambassador told Arabian Business.
Amid escalating tensions, following Iran’s missile attack on Israel last week, Pakistan is left in a difficult spot, their envoy to the UAE believes. Geographically it neighbours Iran, but the aftermath of long-standing issues in also neighbouring Afghanistan has left the country struggling from conflicts outside of its control.
Faisal Niaz Tirmizi added: “In the last 25 years since 9/11 attacks, Pakistan has lost 90,000 people, mostly civilians and armed forces personnel. So if Israel escalates that would be devastating for Pakistan and I hope we don’t reach that level.”
Pakistan’s stance on Israel
Tirmizi’s comments come after the Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s strong condemnation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at last month’s United Nations General Assembly. Sharif labelled Netanyahu a “terrorist” and led a walkout during the Israeli leader’s speech, asserting, “this is not just a conflict. This is systemic slaughter of innocent people of Palestine.”
Pakistan’s ambassador to the UAE revealed conversations are ongoing to urge other nations to call for peace and stability in the region.
“We don’t have diplomatic relations with Israel, but the UAE has, and we urge all of those countries that they should try and drum in some sense, some humanity, that’s something that’s very important,” he said.
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