Pakistan Army cautiously optimistic on US-Iran talks — SkimNews
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- Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said Pakistan’s military was “cautiously optimistic” about US-Iran de-escalation on Friday, while warning of unnamed “powerful spoilers and detractors” who believe the conflict serves them.
- Asim Munir, the army chief, made two trips to Tehran this month, most recently on Monday with Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin; Chaudhry treated the repeat visit as a positive sign.
- Qatar’s mediators arrived in Tehran in another bid to negotiate the revival of the June ceasefire that collapsed months after the eight-month-old war began.
- Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey on Aug. 7, treats an attack on any signatory as an attack on all; its wording does not bar new members.
- Mohsen Rezaei said after Monday’s talks that regional security should be ensured by regional countries without foreign intervention; Chaudhry said the pact welcomed anyone sharing its vision of collective deterrence and regional peace.
- Pakistan Army said additional troops for Saudi Arabia would depend on conditions and decisions by both countries’ political leadership, affirmed its commitment to defend Saudi Arabia, Mecca and Medina, and said it was not part of the Yemeni conflict.
Why it matters: Pakistan is not merely observing the ceasefire effort: Army chief Asim Munir made two Tehran trips this month, and Qatar has added its own mission to revive the June ceasefire. The Aug. 7 pact also gives Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey a collective-defense framework whose wording does not bar Iran from joining.
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