ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday directed all concerned authorities to ensure the safety and swift return of Pakistani Zaireen currently in Iran, following Israel’s deadly airstrikes.
Earlier, Israel launched widespread attacks on Iran, targeting nuclear sites, missile facilities, and senior military officials. In response, Iran vowed a strong retaliation and launched around 100 drones towards Israeli territory, which Israel claimed to be intercepted.
In response to the situation, a Crisis Management Cell has been set up at the Ministry of Foreign Af-fairs to monitor developments and coordinate support. The Pakistani Embassy in Iran has also been placed on high alert and tasked with assisting pilgrims. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar shared the embas-sy’s emergency contact: (0098)-2166941388.
PM Shehbaz stressed the urgent need for all possible steps to protect Pakistani citizens and facilitate their safe return. He ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the embassy in Iran to stay on high alert until regional tensions ease. The Foreign Office has also advised Pakistani pilgrims to reconsider travel to Iran and Iraq due to the deteriorating security situation. Earlier, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has appointed new Revolutionary Guards and armed forces chiefs to replace those killed in targeted Israeli strikes on Friday.
In separate decrees, Khamenei named Mohammad Pakpour to replace Hossein Salami as commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and Abdolrahim Mousavi to replace Mohammad Bagheri as chief of the armed forces general staff.
Israel attacked Iran’s capital early Friday in strikes that targeted the country’s nuclear program and killed at least two top military officers, raising the potential for an all-out war between the two bitter Middle East adversaries. It appeared to be the most significant attack Iran has faced since its 1980s war with Iraq.
The strikes came amid simmering tensions over Iran’s rapidly advancing nuclear programme and ap-peared certain to trigger a reprisal, with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warning that “severe punishment” would be directed at Israel.
Multiple sites around the country were hit, including Iran’s main nuclear enrichment facility, where black smoke could be seen rising into the air. –Agencies
