Daily Times

In a call with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday, Chief of Army Staff General (COAS) Qamar Javed Bajwa emphasised ‘need for maximum restraint and constructive engagement’ following the killing of top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani.

Maj Gen Soleimani was killed on Friday morning in a US strike on Baghdad’s international airport, in a dramatic escalation of tensions between the two countries.

Taking to Twitter, Pompeo shared that he had reached out to officials from multiple countries, including Gen Bajwa, German Minister for Foreign Affairs Heiko Maas, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.

“Pakistan’s Chief of Staff General Bajwa and I spoke today [Friday] about US defensive action to kill Qasem Soleimani,” shared Pompeo on Twitter, adding the “Iran regime’s actions in the region are destabilising and our resolve in protecting American interests, personnel, facilities, and partners will not waver”.

Shortly after, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) via Twitter confirmed that the two had spoken. “COAS received telephone call from US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Regional situation including possible implications of recent escalation in Middle East was discussed,” army’s media wing said in a tweet. “COAS emphasised need for maximum restraint and constructive engagement by all concerned to de-escalate the situation in broader interest of peace and stability,” it said in another tweet. “COAS also reiterated the need for maintaining focus on success of Afghan Peace Process.”

The Foreign Office also expressed ‘deep concern’ over the escalating tensions between Iran and the United States following the assassination of Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani. “Pakistan has viewed with deep concern the recent developments in the Middle East, which seriously threaten peace and stability in the region,” the Foreign Office said in a statement. “Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity are the fundamental principles of the UN Charter, which should be adhered to. It is also important to avoid unilateral actions and use of force,” it said.

“All parties are urged to exercise maximum restraint, engage constructively to de-escalate the situation, and resolve issues through diplomatic means, in accordance with UN Charter and international law,” the statement maintained.

The high-profile assassinations are likely to be a massive blow to Iran, which has been locked in a long conflict with the United States. Tensions escalated sharply last week with the storming of the US embassy in Iraq by pro-Iranian group following a US air raid on Kataib Hezbollah, founded by Muhandis. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the assassination of Soleimani was ‘an extremely dangerous and foolish escalation’.