Pakistan Faces Diplomatic Challenges as Speakers Debate Iran’s Possible Defence Pact Role
Pakistan Faces Diplomatic Challenges As Speakers Debate Iran’s Possible Defence Pact Role
Published October 24, 2026 | 06:55 PM
At a FIGS seminar, speakers urged Muslim countries to expand security cooperation while warning that Iran’s possible inclusion in a proposed Makkah defence agreement could complicate Pakistan’s ties with Tehran and Arab states.
ISLAMABAD (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Oct, 2026) Speakers at a seminar organized by the Forum of Information Group Secretaries (FIGS) on Saturday called for greater unity and defence cooperation among Muslim countries, cautioning that escalating tensions involving Iran, the United States and Israel could trigger a wider regional confrontation with implications for Pakistan’s foreign policy and security.
Key Points:
- Iran-US Tension: The Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan, Dr. Reza Amiri Moghadam, traced the confrontation between Iran and the United States to decades of hostility, sanctions, and disagreements over Tehran’s nuclear programme and regional policies.
- Iran’s Nuclear Programme: He maintained that Iran’s nuclear programme is peaceful and that Tehran has cooperated with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) since 2003.
- Regional Dynamics: Dr. Moghadam highlighted the Palestinian issue and Iran’s opposition to Israeli policies as key factors shaping the regional confrontation.
- Pakistan's Dilemma: Former Ambassador Ashraf Jahangir Qazi discussed the diplomatic challenges Pakistan could face regarding Iran’s potential inclusion in the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.
- Strategic Cooperation: Ambassador Inam-ul-Haq advocated for expanding Muslim countries’ defence cooperation to include Iran and other Muslim states.
- Balanced Foreign Policy: He urged Pakistan to pursue a balanced foreign policy, strengthen domestic resilience, and carefully assess strategic commitments considering economic constraints and security challenges.
- China-US Relations: He also stressed the importance of Pakistan’s relations with China and called for a reassessment of its approach to US relations in the context of shifting global alliances.
Lieutenant General (retd) Khalid Naeem Lodhi added his perspective on the regional security landscape.