Senator and Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah has said Pakistan is actively working to ease tensions following the US attack on Iran, while reaffirming that the country has clearly condemned the strike.
Speaking in Samaa TV’s programme 'Nadeem Malik Live', Sanaullah said the Pakistani leadership, including the prime minister and the field marshal, is engaged in efforts aimed at de-escalating the situation in the region.
Rana Sanaullah said Pakistan does not understand the US decision to attack Iran and has formally condemned the action.
He stated that the Pakistani government is trying to help reduce tensions in the region. According to him, both the PM and the military leadership have made diplomatic efforts, while dialogue between different parties is still ongoing.
He added that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has also been in contact with leaders of other Islamic countries to address the evolving situation.
Monitoring of Iranian leadership
During the interview, Sanaullah said reports suggest that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been monitored for a long time. He added that observers had been waiting for a particular meeting in which half of Iran’s leadership was expected to be present.
Sanaullah emphasized that Pakistan should avoid joining any bloc and instead move forward according to its own national interests.
Remarks on Trump, Indo-Pak tensions
The PM's adviser also addressed discussions surrounding US President Donald Trump. He said Trump had played a positive role during the Indo-Pakistan conflict, which Sanaullah described as favourable for Pakistan.
However, he clarified that Pakistan never suggested Trump should receive the Nobel Prize for supporting Israel, dismissing claims circulating in public discourse.
Sanaullah further stressed that Pakistan is a declared nuclear state, adding that no country has the courage to challenge Pakistan directly.
“Pakistan knows how to defend itself,” he said.
Pakistan not at war with Afghanistan
Sanaullah also commented on Pakistan’s relationship with Afghanistan, stating that Pakistan is not at war with its neighbour. He said Afghanistan itself is not in a position where war with Pakistan is conceivable.
However, he alleged that Indian weapons are reaching Afghanistan, while militant groups such as the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) are present there.
He clarified that Pakistan’s objective is not to wage war or occupy Afghanistan.
Eliminating terrorism centers
According to Sanaullah, Pakistan’s primary goal is to ensure that Afghanistan does not become a hub of terrorism. He said the government wants to ensure there are no terrorist centers operating from Afghan territory, and warned that such centers would ultimately be eliminated.
Sanaullah added that Pakistan has consistently cooperated with Afghanistan, but unfortunately, “there has never been a cool breeze from there.”
He also noted that Turkey and Qatar have made significant efforts to persuade Afghanistan to address these concerns.
PTI criticism over national security briefing
The senator also criticized the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for not attending a national security briefing held at the Prime Minister’s House. He said PTI should have participated in the meeting in the interest of the country.
According to Sanaullah, if the PTI had concerns or reservations, they could have raised them during the briefing and those issues could have been addressed.
He added that it was even possible that the director general of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) could have attended the meeting to provide a detailed briefing.
