PM Shehbaz meets Iranian Ambassador, reaffirms Pakistan's support amid Israeli aggression
PM Shehbaz interacts with Ambassador of Iran to Pakistan H.E. Reza Amiri Moghadam at Pakistan International Maritime Expo and Conference on June 16. Photo: x.com/GovtofPakistan
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated Pakistan's strong condemnation of recent Israeli aggression against Iran and expressed solidarity with the Iranian people and government amid heightened tensions in the region.
The PM made the remarks during a meeting with Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri Moghadam on the sidelines of the International Maritime Expo and Conference in Islamabad on Monday. 'The entire Pakistani nation's sympathies are with Iran over the martyrdom of innocent people,' he said.
Islamabad: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif interacts with the Ambassador of Iran to Pakistan H.E. Reza Amiri Moghadam at Pakistan International Maritime Expo and Conference on 16 June, 2025. pic.twitter.com/lGjizlsF06 — Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) June 16, 2025
He referred to his recent telephonic conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, during which Pakistan reaffirmed its support for Iran at the United Nations Security Council. Sharif stressed that Israel's attacks on Iran are a blatant violation of the UN Charter and international law.
The premier further underscored that Pakistan would continue to stand by Iran in the face of Israeli aggression and maintain its commitment to supporting Iran's sovereignty on the global stage.
Earlier, speaking at the soft launch of the 2nd Pakistan International Maritime Expo and Conference (PIMEC 2025), the PM outlined his vision for transforming Pakistan into a regional maritime powerhouse.
"It is a great pleasure to see the Pakistan Navy, under the patronage of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and in collaboration with key partners, organising the second edition of PIMEC," the PM said.
Islamabad: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif launches new logo of Pakistan International Maritime Expo and Conference. pic.twitter.com/kzseuzbqMy — Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) June 16, 2025
He praised the leadership of Naval Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf and Maritime Affairs Minister Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry for their strategic foresight and commitment in advancing the event.
In his address, Sharif emphasised the pivotal role of the Pakistan Navy in national defence and regional security, noting, "The Pakistan Navy has been a formidable force through all conflicts and remains a strong pillar of our national security."
The PM also reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to international peace and maritime law, citing the AMAN Exercise, which involved over 50 countries, as a symbol of Pakistan's cooperative maritime posture.
With more than 1,000 kilometres of coastline and strategic positioning along vital sea lanes, Sharif stated that Pakistan was uniquely positioned to tap into the trillion-dollar global blue economy.
"Even tapping a fraction of this economy could be a real game-changer," he said, adding, "Our coastal trade already brings in nearly $7 billion a year, and just imagine the potential if we fully develop this sector."
The PM drew inspiration from global success stories, notably Japan, which, despite limited maritime resources, became a global leader in marine infrastructure and regional trade. "Let there be open competition," he said, stressing the importance of resilience, innovation, and strategic investment.
Sharif concluded by highlighting the need to transform Pakistan's maritime sector into a driver of inclusive, sustainable economic growth. He called for greater synergy between the public and private sectors, saying, "The time has come to take the lead."
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Through clandestine teams using agents, moles within the Irani military and government, Tel Aviv has killed the top leadership of Revolutionary Guards (IRGC or Pasadaran) and other branches of Irani military, and upto a dozen top nuclear scientists and clergy. However, despite this attrition, Ayatollahs remain in power with no immediate threat to their rule and authority for now. Irani people were subjected to intense psy-ops, and propaganda involving pro-Shah expat Irani communities, to rise up against the regime and vacate Tehran during hostilities. However, despite deep fissures, unrest and suppression and faltering economy, Iran seemed to hold its ground during this brief but intense combat. The Middle East (ME) balance of power is altered decidedly away from Iran and tilted towards Israel. This will have implications. For now, Israel seems to be the dominant military power in the ME and is on the roll with the US backing. 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Unlearnt. This conflict validates the age-old dictum of 'might is right', demonstrating that rules, regulations and statutes are only for the weak and voiceless. The strong can trample them with impunity. International organisations like the UN, established for the very purpose of ensuring global peace and security, remain hostage to the powerful. The US vetoes in the UNSC in favour of a genocidal Israel are cases in point. Geostrategic realignment The global chessboard is re-aligned like never before. Israel although bruised and battered by the Iranian onslaught, remains a dominant military power in the ME, for now. Iran will recuperate from its moment of peril and weakness overtime. Iran has undergone a reality check and would be a nuclear power sooner than later. Rationally speaking, it would mend its fractured ties with the Sunni world and avoid nurturing destabilising proxies. It has realised the value of its relationship with Pakistan, and seen the Indian duplicity, given New Delhi's friendship with and support to Israel. Jewish and Zionist causes took a great hit and sympathy towards Jewish people among gentiles is at an all-time low. Israel under BB has greatly damaged the Jewish cause by bringing to limelight the Jewish stranglehold on the US power levers. This is not to the liking of majority of non-Jewish Americans, most of whom comprise Trump's power base. The US attacks on Iran remained conspicuously unpopular within the US, and exacerbated divisions among Americans and among the Europeans, stemming from Israeli conduct and cruelty in Gaza over the last some two years. Russia is likely to be an assertive player with or without China and may push for ingress into Syria, its erstwhile ally. Its tacit support will continue for Tehran. Middle East per se is likely to go towards multipolarity with the US, China and Russian fiefs, especially after America's direct involvement in the war. Political lessons Politically, the war will reverberate into the domestic politics of belligerents. Bibi Netanyahu, for now idolised as 'Mr. Security' by a paranoid Israel, will ultimately have to deal with the more complex question of 'what now' in Gaza and the West Bank in dealing with the hereafter of his genocidal destruction. He or the future Israeli leadership will have to calibrate relations with an Iran that will ultimately be a nuclear power. Iran will have to decide if its proxy power is to stay or otherwise, as it is to the great chagrin of most stake holders in the greater Middle East. Lebanon wants to re-assert its control that was ceded to Hezbollah; Yemen would like to restrain in the Houthis; and Hamas may not die its death but would look for alternative patrons, after the Syrian route for their logistic replenishment is gone. The Sunni crescent would like to see Iran defanged from its interventionist politics and brinkmanship. Military lessons Militarily this war will, heretofore, intensify the race to acquire nuclear weapons globally, hitting at the very basis of non-proliferation. Iran may be restrained for some time, but a nuclear Iran in the mid to long-term is a reality, that Israel will have to live with, with or without the Ayatollahs in power. Physical infrastructure of a nuclear progamme can be destroyed but not the knowledge base. In this case, even the physical infrastructure was not completely taken out, given its impossibility. Destroying Iran's knowledge base by assassinating its scientists is just an act of desperate jitteriness by Israel. Knowledge is non-perishable. Nuclear sites are no more kosher in a shooting war, especially since the sole superpower has set a new normal by participating in attacks on Irani nuclear facilities. This will have lasting implications for America and other nuclear powers especially China and Russia. Pakistan will also need to consider this once unthought scenario in dealing with Modi's India. Asset hardening like in Fordow is the way to go. Small powers like Pakistan, facing larger enemies will have to seriously invest in hardening their aerial, missile and nuclear assets. For nuclear powers, announcement of a clear nuclear policy is a compulsion now to remove any misunderstanding and/or breakdown of conventional deterrence during escalation. Iran will have to come clear on the issue of nuclearisation, civil or military; scale down its revolutionary rhetoric; and deal with its post-nuclear policy. Pakistan must announce its nuclear policy to debunk the strategic thinking among some Indian decision-makers, civil and military, that there is space for a limited punitive conventional conflict with Pakistan, under the nuclear overhang. Escalation control was demonstrated by both Iran and Israel, through limiting their attacks largely to the military targets, agreeing to a ceasefire and re-establish deterrence once military options were not making headway. Iran re-established conventional deterrence through its relentless missile barrages, especially immediately after the US attack, when its longest attack lasted a good 40 minutes. The conflict validated the use of drone and missile technologies by the weaker states, and their socio-psychological impact on the population. Warfare, given the intense involvement of media especially the amok social media, is now a whole-of-the nation affair, not restricted to the military alone. Likewise, as experienced in this conflict, AD with continuous upgradation, acquisition of cutting-edge aircraft, investment in the drone and missile technologies, and strengthening air force are critical, especially for Pakistan now, like never before. Contact ground battle is taking a back seat, especially when belligerents are distant and do not share any land border like Iran and Israel. This may in such cases, gradually diminish the role and importance of services like the Army, and particularly the infantry. This validates greater significance of air force, drones, missiles, electronic warfare, space and cyber capabilities. Pakistani military should need to keep a watchful eye on these domains. For us, following a 'Continental Strategy' would remain vogue, as ground war with India is a lurking possibility. Pakistan would need the dual investment in conventional force structure, as well as niche capabilities, as cited. Our own short skirmish with India in May this year has validated these lessons. Israel's bold and successful manipulation of Irani assets to their great advantage, substantiates the importance of counterintelligence. Insertion of commando teams inside Iran, establishing bases, recruiting agents and moles, assassinations, pager explosions, and induction of cyber tools are some areas where IDF worked very closely with Mossad. Pakistan will have to ensure counterintelligence vis-à-vis India, and strengthen its own intelligence collection and counterintelligence capabilities, using paramilitary, espionage and other assets. One of the glaring weaknesses was Israel's ability to sustain regular AD at home, and aerial onslaught over Iran, due to the dual challenges of geography and logistics. The over 3,000 kms roundtrip to attack Iran needed multiple midair refueling by IAF fighter jets. IAF's limited KC-707 air refuellers fleet curtailed the size of IAF flotilla, making its offensive punch lighter over targets, needing multiple revisits. Non- availability of bunker busting munitions and long-range bombers to carry these over to targets in Iran also limited Israeli options, enhancing its dependence on the US. Over employment of the AD system created munition shortfalls even within the US, allowing more Irani missiles to penetrate through, particularly during the last days of war. Finally, the resolve of leadership, civil and military, is very important. Iran's refusal to surrender; and Netanyahu who mostly followed his gut rather than the advice of World Jewry; remained decisive during various stages of the war. Iran's will to fight, its ingenious employment of drones, and Tehran enhancing the tyranny of its geography for Israel, remained decisive factors. Every major conflict changes the nature of warfare, without affecting the rules and principles of warfare. In geostrategy, Israel was a victim of over-stretch, trying to overcome its demographic and geographic vulnerabilities; just like Iran was a victim of its own over-stretch by raising, mentoring and financing proxies and muddying its ties with stake holders in the region. One hopes, this war leads to some sort of wise accommodation on the core issues like the Palestinian problem, Iran's nuclear programme, and Israel's heartless application of force and America's blind support. Inam ul Haque is a retired Pakistan Army major general who writes on defence, global affairs and political sociology. He can be reached at tayyarinam@ and his Twitter handle @20_Inam All facts and information are the sole responsibility of the author
