Pakistan expressed its commitment to support Iran in the face of Israeli airstrikes on Saturday but subsequently announced the indefinite closure of all border crossings with Iran on Monday.
A high-ranking official from Pakistan’s Baluchistan province mentioned, “Border facilities in all five districts—Chagi, Washk, Panjuk, Kechi, and Gwadar—have been suspended.” This was stated on Monday.
Although the border crossing to Iran is “suspended until further notice,” officials allowed hundreds of Pakistanis fleeing Iran to return home. They noted that while pedestrian crossings have been halted, commercial transactions between the two countries can still proceed.
On Sunday, Pakistani Foreign Minister Isaac Dal reported that approximately 450 Pakistani “pilgrims” have returned from Iran, with more expected. He also noted that some citizens had left Iraq due to the ongoing Israeli-Iran conflict.
At the Taftan border crossing, the number of returnees from Iran reached 714 by Monday. Three Pakistani students traveled back from Tehran, while an additional 269 citizens returned via two special flights from Basra, Iraq.
“The Ministry remains actively engaged with Iraq Airlines and other relevant Iraqi authorities to facilitate the safe return of remaining Pakistani pilgrims in Iraq,” a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated. The term “Zarin” refers to “pilgrim.”
“All Zarenes are further encouraged to be ready for travel soon. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is closely monitoring the situation and is committed to ensuring the safe interests of all Pakistan Zarenes,” the spokesperson added.
The majority of Pakistan’s population, around 97%, is Muslim, while only about 10-15% of Iranians practice Shiite Islam. Given that Iran and Iraq house significant religious sites for Shia Muslims, many Pakistani Shias travel to these countries for pilgrimage and worship.
Hindustan Times reported on Monday that Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry has established a 24-hour “Crisis Management Department” in Islamabad to assist Pakistani citizens returning from Iran and Iraq.
Pakistan’s Defense Minister Kwaja Asif stated in a parliamentary speech on Saturday that Islamabad stands firmly with Iran and emphasizes that all Muslim nations should unite. However, he refrained from suggesting military actions on Iran’s behalf.
“Israel is targeting Iran, Yemen, and Palestine. If Muslim countries do not come together now, they might all face dire consequences,” he warned.
“We will support Iran at all international platforms to defend their interests,” he asserted.
It seems that Iranian officials were seeking support from Pakistan in international forums, especially considering the recent loss of a high-ranking figure due to Israeli airstrikes.
On Monday, Asif responded to claims made by an Iranian official asserting that Pakistan would retaliate with nuclear weapons in the event of an Israeli nuclear attack on Iran. Asif dismissed these assertions.
“Our nuclear capabilities exist to protect our population and our nation against hostile threats. We are not pursuing hegemonic ambitions, especially considering Israel’s current stance,” he stated.
