From Condemnation To 'Expression Of Concern': Pakistan Changes Stand On US Strikes Against Iran

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Last Updated:June 24, 2025, 00:21 IST

Top intelligence sources said Pakistani officials at the meeting of the National Security Committee chose to remain completely silent on the US attack on Iran

Pakistan has gone on the defensive a day after it condemned the US strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, reducing it to an “expression of concern", top intelligence sources told News18.

Pakistan, which along with Russia and China submitted a draft UN Security Council resolution for a ceasefire in the Middle East on Sunday (June 23), called a high-level security huddle in the aftermath of the American strikes.

According to the top intelligence sources, during this meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC), Pakistan reduced its condemnation of the attack to an “expression of concern".

Top Pakistani officials chose to remain completely silent on the US attack on Iran. While the Pakistan Foreign Office condemned it, it was not discussed during the NSC meeting. Also, they avoided a discussion on India, Indus Waters Treaty, and Kashmir.

The sources told News18 that the meeting was marked by strategic ambiguity. The NSC only condemned Israeli aggression against Iran, notably avoiding any mention of the US despite previous condemnation from the Foreign Office, they said.

They said this silence suggests a calculated effort to avoid tensions with Washington, which is crucial for Islamabad’s IMF (International Monetary Fund) programme, military aid, and Gulf ties.

The statement issued after the meeting avoided references to India, Kashmir, or the Indus Waters Treaty, the sources said. This indicated that Islamabad is reluctant to escalate tensions while facing internal economic and political instability.

They further said lack of any concrete response or policy shift signifies that the meeting was largely symbolic, aimed more at managing domestic optics than signalling a strategic posture. It highlights internal friction between the civil and military messaging and underscores Pakistan’s waning influence in regional diplomacy and security. Islamabad’s stance on condemning American attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities is slowly evolving, they added.

“The NSC also reaffirmed Pakistan’s close engagement with relevant parties and endorsed its readiness to further continue efforts and initiatives aimed at promoting regional peace and stability," a press release said. “The NSC called on all relevant parties to resolve the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy, in line with the UN Charter."