ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said Israel will ultimately “pay the price” for the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, while expressing concern over the continuation of fighting and its impact on regional stability.
Speaking in an interview, Asif said Pakistan hoped international pressure would contribute to a peaceful resolution of the conflict. He argued that Israel had an interest in seeing the confrontation continue and that Gulf countries could face further economic and security pressure as the conflict persists.
The defence minister also discussed the escalating situation in Yemen and the potential consequences for Saudi Arabia. He warned that any further spillover of the conflict into Saudi territory could have serious implications under the recently established defence agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.
Asif said the agreement treats aggression against one member as aggression against all three countries, leaving Pakistan bound by its terms. His remarks came after Houthi attacks on Saudi territory raised concerns about a wider regional escalation.
On the broader US-Iran conflict, Asif expressed hope that diplomatic efforts could still prevent further escalation, saying that not all avenues for engagement had been exhausted.
The minister’s comments come amid heightened tensions across the Middle East, with fighting and attacks threatening to expand beyond existing conflict zones and creating growing concerns over regional security and energy supplies.
