Pakistan’s leadership is trying to keep alive the prospect of a diplomatic breakthrough in the conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran, according to a Pakistani security source.
But the source added that an attack early Tuesday on vital infrastructure in Saudi Arabia may have diminished the chances of a breakthrough.
“The entire Pakistani civil-military leadership is working hard to make a breakthrough happen,” the source told CNN, including the powerful military chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, who has a close relationship with US President Donald Trump.
“But there are now concerns after Saudi Arabia was targeted that this could compromise the entire process,” the source said.
Pakistan was “very concerned about what will happen if Saudis retaliate. Efforts are underway to facilitate dialogue,” the source added.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry condemned the overnight attacks by Iranian missiles and drones “against energy facilities in the Eastern Region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
“Pakistan mourns the loss of life resulting from these attacks and strongly deplores the damage inflicted on vital infrastructure.”
The Saudi authorities have said little about what was struck and whether there had been any casualties. Early Tuesday, the Saudi Defense Ministry said that 18 drones had been intercepted without giving further details.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a mutual defense treaty in September.