What happened
According to Dawn, Pakistani federal ministers have clarified the nature of a recent diplomatic gathering in Tehran following criticism from Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman. Fazl had questioned in the National Assembly why Defence Minister Khawaja Asif was absent while Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi was present at the conference.
In response, Asif stated in the National Assembly that the Tehran discussions did not concern defence agreements or the mandate of the defence ministry, making his presence unnecessary. Meanwhile, Naqvi explained in the Senate that the prime minister had specifically assigned him tasks related to the ongoing regional war crisis, which prompted his participation.
Key facts
- According to Dawn, the Tehran session brought together officials from Iran and member nations of the Makkah Defence Alliance.
- Key attendees included Pakistan's Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei.
- The participants agreed to continue their dialogue to enhance cooperation on regional security and peace.
- Asif mentioned that CDF Munir initiated the proposal for the meeting during a prior visit, acting as a messenger of peace to avert further regional conflict.
- Naqvi's remarks in the Senate led to a heated exchange with JUI-F Senator Kamran Murtaza over statements regarding state institutions.
Why it matters
According to Dawn, the government's statements aimed to counter opposition criticism regarding Pakistan's international engagements. Asif emphasized that political rivalries should not overshadow international peace efforts, citing Pakistan's previous participation in agreements such as the Makkah defence pact and the Badr Memorandum of Understanding. The event also highlighted ongoing tension between the ruling authorities and the JUI-F over foreign policy roles and political conduct.
Source: Dawn - Home · Published October 29, 2026 · Photo by Yogendra Singh on Unsplash
