Islamabad : Ambassador Masood Khan, former President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and former Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States, China, and the United Nations, warned that the Middle East stands on the brink of a potentially devastating conflict, as credible indications suggest imminent military action against Iran. He noted that advanced U.S. naval and air assets—including the Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier group, multiple destroyers, Tomahawk missiles, and F-35 aircraft—have been deployed in the region, with major U.S. bases operational in Qatar and Bahrain. According to Ambassador Khan, Iran has been conveyed messages of an impending strike, heightening the risk of a rapid and uncontrollable escalation.
Ambassador Khan cautioned that any war involving Iran would not remain geographically confined. He stressed that Gulf states and their economies would be directly affected, as Iran has explicitly warned that U.S. and allied bases across the Gulf region would be legitimate targets in the event of hostilities. He observed that Israel continues to press Washington to seize what it views as a strategic moment to neutralize Iran, particularly over concerns related to uranium enrichment and missile capabilities, despite Iran’s repeated assertions that its nuclear program is not intended for weaponization.
Assessing the broader strategic picture, Ambassador Khan said the ultimate objective of the United States and Israel appears to be regime change in Iran, a goal that is now being articulated openly. He cautioned that externally induced regime change carries the risk of civil war, state fragmentation, and prolonged instability, noting that Iran’s internal complexities, ethnic diversity, economic pressures from sanctions, and absence of a unifying opposition leadership make such an outcome deeply unpredictable and costly.
Turning to Pakistan’s security environment, Ambassador Khan warned that a major regional war would pose serious risks for Pakistan, including disruption of energy supply chains, refugee inflows, and the activation of hostile non-state actors. He underscored that India would seek to exploit any regional turmoil to Pakistan’s disadvantage, particularly through covert and overt actions in Balochistan and along Pakistan’s western border. He emphasized that Kashmir remains an internationally recognized dispute and cannot be equated with India’s interference in Pakistan’s internal affairs, which he described as a clear violation of international law.
Ambassador Khan also reflected on Pakistan’s complex relationship with Afghanistan, stating at Islamabad had its engagement with the Afghan Taliban after 2021. He recalled that Pakistan explored every available diplomatic avenue—bilateral talks, Chinese facilitation, regional mediation, and international advocacy—but persistent cross-border terrorism left Pakistan with limited options. He reiterated that attacks on Pakistan originating from Afghan soil constitute an open and ongoing security challenge.
On Pakistan’s international standing, Ambassador Khan noted a marked improvement in the country’s diplomatic and strategic profile over the past year, citing successful defense production, growing interest in platforms such as the JF-17, and increased international engagement. However, he cautioned against complacency, stressing that sustained gains depend on economic resilience, political stability, and strategic consistency.
Concluding, Ambassador Khan said the world is in a state of profound flux, marked by simultaneous dangers and opportunities. He urged Pakistan to proceed with extreme caution, strategic clarity, and diplomatic agility, adding that if Islamabad is afforded an opportunity to play a constructive mediatory role—particularly in averting a wider Middle East conflict—it should do so in the interest of regional and global peace.
