Senior security official dismisses speculation that Pakistan could be next target after US-Israeli strikes on Iran – Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: A senior security official on Monday dismissed speculation that after Iran, Pakistan could be the next target of US-Israeli military action, saying such perceptions were “lacking in facts” and were being spread by “agents of chaos”.

According to a brief shared with SunriseThe official said Pakistan was different from Iran, which was fully integrated with the world and fully capable of defending itself.

He said that those who spread “alarmist narratives” pursue “nefarious and vested interests.”

His comments came amid an escalating war in the Middle East in which Israel and the United States, for the second time in eight months, launched coordinated attacks on Iran. Tehran retaliated by attacking Israeli territory and US military facilities in neighboring countries, raising fears of a broader regional conflagration.

Following the US-Israeli airstrikes, there has been speculation and concern that Pakistan could face similar aggression. Some analyzes by Western think tanks had also speculated about possible spillover effects on nuclear-armed states in the region.

The security manager, however, rejected any comparison.

“The misperception that Pakistan is likely to be the next target is factually absent and wildly misplaced,” he said, according to the report.

“Pakistan can never be equated with Iran as both countries are different militarily and in terms of foreign policy, external engagement and internal dynamics,” he added.

The official said Pakistan pursued “a strong foreign policy” and valued its relationships with multiple global stakeholders. “We believe in compromise for the sake of stability and prosperity of the people of Pakistan,” he added.

According to the official, Pakistan’s relations with the rest of the world were based on “mutual respect and trust,” reflecting what is often described as a hedging strategy that includes balancing ties with Washington, Tehran and Riyadh while avoiding entanglement in the bloc’s politics.

Unlike Iran’s adversarial stance toward the West, Pakistan maintains defense cooperation with Saudi Arabia, economic engagement with the United States, and a working relationship with Iran, with which it also shares a long border and limited trade ties.

Officials say this multi-vector diplomacy is designed to ensure economic stability, including energy security, while insulating the country from regional crises.

‘Pakistan is fully capable of defending its sovereignty’

On the military front, the official highlighted deterrence.

“Pakistan is fully capable of defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity and the same has been demonstrated during the recent Marka-i-Haq events and our long-standing fight against the scourge of terrorism,” he said.

“Marka-e-Haq” refers to Pakistan’s military conflict with India in May 2025, including Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos, which lasted 96 hours and saw 26 targets attacked.

The official said, “Pakistan’s armed forces, with the support of the brave and resilient nation, will foil all the nefarious plans of our enemies. Anyone who has any doubts is welcome to clarify their thoughts.”

On regional ties, the official said, “Pakistan greatly values ​​its decade-old fraternal and strategic relations with Saudi Arabia,” underlining Islamabad’s long-standing economic and defense partnership with Riyadh.

Speaking about the International Stabilization Force (ISF), which is being created by US President Donald Trump’s Peace Board for post-Gaza ceasefire agreements, the official said deliberations were ongoing.

“The details regarding the ISF are yet to be worked out. The decision on Pakistan’s participation will be taken by the government of Pakistan after due diligence,” he said, indicating that no commitment had been made yet and the matter was still under review.

The official also referred to nationwide protests in Pakistan following the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Demonstrations took place in several cities and at least 20 people lost their lives in related unrest.

“Pakistan has expressed concern over the unfortunate developments in Iran,” the official said.

“While peaceful protest is a people’s right, violence disguised as protests cannot be tolerated,” he added.

He warned that “any attempt to create chaos in the country will be dealt with according to the law and a few miscreants cannot be allowed to give a bad name to peaceful protesters.”

“We are in no hurry to end Operation Ghazab lil-Haq”

The security official also said that Pakistan was in no hurry to end Operation Ghazab lil-Haq and would continue cross-border actions against terrorist sanctuaries inside Afghanistan until Kabul offered verifiable guarantees against the facilitation of terrorism.

“Pakistan is in no hurry to end Operation Ghazab lil-Haq. It is time for the supporters and accomplices of terrorism to bleed and suffer,” the official was quoted as saying.

The operation was launched on February 26 after Afghan Taliban fighters attacked Pakistani border posts along the border, following Pakistani attacks four days earlier on terrorist hideouts in Afghanistan.

Islamabad says the February 22 attacks targeted infrastructure used by the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which the state refers to as Fitna-al-Khawarijand other groups that operate from Afghan soil.

Outlining Islamabad’s position, the official said: “Operations in Afghanistan will end when the Taliban regime in Afghanistan provides verifiable assurances of compliance with Pakistan’s demand to abandon facilitation of Fitna-al-Khawarij and Fitna-al-Hindustan. “We are in no hurry.”

the state has designated Balochistan based groups like Fitna-al-Hindustan to stand out India’s alleged role in terrorism and destabilization across Pakistan.

The security official further said that “the duration of operations in Pakistan depends on actions in [the] ground by the Afghan Taliban regime,” indicating that there was no fixed schedule and that the reduction in tension would be conditional.

The official said the Afghan Taliban must make a strategic decision.

“The Afghan Taliban have to choose between Pakistan and terrorist groups operating from their soil.”

He described the Afghan Taliban as a “proxy master harboring multiple terrorist groups to disrupt regional peace,” saying they were “flourishing in the war economy under the guise of their perverted religious ideology” and that “the only religion of their leaders is money and nothing else.”

Islamabad has repeatedly accused Kabul of providing space for the TTP since the Taliban took over Afghanistan in 2021. UN monitoring reports over the past two years have noted the TTP’s presence in eastern Afghanistan, although the Taliban deny offering support.

Defending the scope and conduct of the current campaign, the official said the targets were specific and based on intelligence.

“Pakistan is attacking sanctuaries of terrorists and their facilitators who harbor them. These are legitimate self-defense targets of the war of terror imposed on Pakistani citizens, mosques and children.

“Pakistan is not resorting to attacking random targets in Afghanistan, rather the infrastructure supporting terrorist groups are specifically targeted,” he said.

The official said that during the ongoing Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, “we have destroyed more than 180 posts and captured more than 30… All these are those posts from where terrorists were provided as launch pads.”

The official also accused Kabul and New Delhi of orchestrating a disinformation campaign.

“The Afghan Taliban regime and its Indian masters constantly resort to fabricated propaganda and false information through their official accounts. Please verify everything. The official accounts of the Afghan Taliban have no credibility.”

He also clarified that Pakistan’s actions were not directed at Afghan civilians.

“We have no problem with the people of Afghanistan; our operations focus on those perverts. kharjis and their supporters who perpetrate and support acts of terrorism within Pakistan.”

“Pakistan’s operations against terrorists in Afghanistan have received a positive response from oppressed Afghan communities and minorities.”

Rejecting suggestions that Islamabad was seeking regime change in Kabul, the official added: “Pakistan has nothing to do with regime change in Afghanistan, it is the prerogative of the Afghan people. They are happy that someone has stood up to these cruel warlords.”

“There is no interest in politics”

He also linked the military’s sustained involvement in internal security to shortcomings in internal governance.

“Pakistan Army’s involvement in internal security is due to governance gaps. Our involvement is due to non-implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) in its entirety and politicization of institutions that are primarily responsible for internal security,” he said.

“That is why we ask all political parties and governments for better governance and better implementation of the PAN. We have no interest in politics or other issues.”