Pakistan was watching with “deep concern” the ongoing developments in the Middle East, the Foreign Office said on Sunday after Iran launched the attack over a suspected Israeli strike on its consulate in Syria on April 1 that killed top Revolutionary Guards commanders.

“For months, Pakistan has underlined the necessity of international efforts to prevent the expansion of hostilities in the region and for a ceasefire in Gaza,” the FO said in a statement.

Iran has warned Israel and the United States of a much larger response if there is any retaliation for its mass drone and missile attack on Israeli territory overnight, as Israel said “the campaign is not over yet”.

The threat of open warfare erupting between the arch Middle East foes and dragging in the US has put the region on edge as Washington said America did not seek conflict with Iran but would not hesitate to protect its forces and Israel.

On April 2, Pakistan pointed to the dangers of the attack on the Iranian consular office in Syria as a “major escalation” in an already volatile region.

“Today’s developments demonstrate the consequences of the breakdown of diplomacy. These also underline the grave implications in cases where the UN Security Council is unable to fulfill its responsibilities of maintaining international peace and security,” it said.
While calling for stabilising the situation and restoring peace, the FO said: “We call on all parties to exercise utmost restraint and move towards de-escalation.”