International calls for “restraint” and avoidance of escalation have been forthcoming after Iran and Pakistan exchanged fire, targeting sites each side claims to be bases for armed groups targeting their territories. Signs point to easing tensions from both parties.
Yesterday, Pakistan announced it carried out “precise” military strikes against “terrorist hideouts” in Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan province, a day after Tehran launched missile and drone attacks targeting two sites in Pakistan it accuses of harboring a “terrorist group.”
The United Nations has urged both Iran and Pakistan to exercise restraint, emphasizing the necessity to resolve all issues between the two countries peacefully. UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric voiced concerns about the escalating tensions in the region and mentioned that UN Secretary-General António Guterres is ready to offer assistance if requested.
Dujarric stated at a press briefing, “We call for the utmost restraint, and it’s essential that Iran and Pakistan resolve their issues through peaceful means, dialogue, and cooperation,” underscoring the importance of solutions adhering to principles of sovereignty and good neighborliness.
In Washington, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby affirmed that the United States “does not want an escalation in South Asia and Central Asia,” adding that the U.S. administration is “closely monitoring” tensions between the two countries. Speaking to reporters accompanying President Joe Biden on Air Force One, Kirby noted, “Both are heavily armed countries, and again, we do not want to see an escalation.”
State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller expressed American concern over the escalation of tensions in the region and continued to urge all parties to show restraint, stating, “We want to prevent escalation and believe that any escalation cannot be justified.”
China Offers Mediation
China has expressed a willingness to mediate between Pakistan and Iran. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning stated at a regular press briefing, “The Chinese side sincerely hopes that both parties can calm down, exercise restraint, and avoid escalation of tensions,” adding, “We are ready to play a constructive role in de-escalating the situation if both parties desire so.”
The European Union voiced deep concern about the “spiral of violence in the Middle East and beyond.” EU Spokesperson Peter Stano said the attacks, including those inside Pakistan, Iraq, and Iran, now pose significant concern for the EU as they violate state sovereignty and territorial integrity and have a destabilizing impact on the region.
Russia too urged Islamabad and Tehran to de-escalate tensions. The Russian Foreign Ministry in its statement called upon both sides to “practice the utmost restraint and exclusively resolve emerging issues using political and diplomatic means.”
Relations between Pakistan and Iran have experienced tensions in the past, but the strikes represent the most significant cross-border operation in recent years.
The mutual military strikes raise concerns about instability in the region, yet both sides seem eager to contain the situation. The Iranian Foreign Ministry has affirmed its commitment to good neighborly relations with Pakistan but has called for preventing “terrorist bases” from being established on its soil.
Similarly, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry stated that its military action was aimed at securing Pakistan’s national interests, which are paramount and inviolable.
In the context of de-escalation, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan confirmed, after speaking to his counterparts from both countries, that neither side wants to escalate tensions.
Observers note that the two targeted militant groups are active in an area encompassing Pakistan’s southwestern region of Baluchistan and southeastern Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan province. Both regions, though rich in minerals, suffer from significant poverty and instability.
