UPDATE: 2 - Pakistan condemns Israel-US attack on Iran, Tehran's retaliation against regional nations

UPDATES WITH PAKISTAN FOREIGN MINISTRY STATEMENT, CHANGES HEADING

By Islamuddin Sajid and Aamir Latif

ISLAMABAD / KARACHI (AA) - Pakistan on Saturday condemned Israel-US attacks on Iran, and the latter's retaliatory strikes on regional nations, calling for an immediate halt to the escalation.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar received a phone call from Iranian counterpart Seyed Abbas Araghchi and they discussed the latest situation, a Pakistani Foreign Ministry statement said.

Dar "strongly condemned the unwarranted attacks against Iran and called for an immediate halt to escalation through urgent resumption of diplomacy to achieve a peaceful, negotiated resolution to the crisis," the statement added.

Separately, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a phone call with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss the regional situation following the US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran.

Sharif, in a statement on US social media platform X, said he expressed Pakistan’s "strong condemnation of the dangerous regional escalation following the Israeli attack on Iran and subsequent attacks in the Gulf region."

"We remain ready to play a constructive role for peace and pray that the blessings of Ramadan bring calm and stability to our region," he maintained.

Pakistan, he said, stands in "full" solidarity with Saudi Arabia and "our brotherly" Gulf countries in this perilous time.

Sharif also spoke to the UAE's President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to convey Pakistan’s "strong condemnation of the dangerous regional escalation" following the Israeli attack on Iran and the "regrettable" strikes against the UAE and other Gulf countries.

Sharif also held a telephone conversation with Qatari Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, strongly condemning the serious regional escalation from the Israeli attack on Iran.

In a separate statement, Islamabad's Foreign Ministry condemned the "unwarranted" attacks against Iran, observing that the strikes will undermine the peace and stability of the entire region, with far-reaching consequences.

It also "strongly" condemned the attacks by Iran against the brotherly countries of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE, and "stands in solidarity with all these brotherly countries and underscores the need to exercise maximum restraint."

"Pakistan regrets the breakdown of talks and outbreak of hostilities in the Middle East. These attacks come at a time when diplomatic efforts were underway to reach a peaceful and negotiated solution," it added.

Israel and the US early Saturday launched a joint operation against Iran, citing "threats" posed by the "Iranian regime."

Iran accused the US and Israel of military aggression, calling the strikes a violation of its sovereignty and a breach of Article 2(4) of the UN Charter.

In retaliation, Tehran hit several US-linked sites in regional countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar.