Islamabad/Moscow, April 16: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the Russian Federation, Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, has indicated that escalating tensions between the United States and Iran risk triggering wider regional instability, stressing that “wars never result in anything” and urging all sides to return to dialogue.
In an interview aired on Russian television RT on Wednesday, Ambassador Tirmizi said Pakistan believes both Washington and Tehran will ultimately recognize the futility of military escalation. He noted that despite restrictions, some international shipping had continued, underscoring the limits of coercive tactics.
Highlighting the role of Pakistan’s civil and military leadership particularly Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, PM Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Ambassador Tirmizi stated that they are working non-stop even after the result less US-Iran Talks in Islamabad because talks were just an event of the extended process of diplomacy adding that one must understand while reporting diplomatic moments that diplomacy is a process not an event. He was hopeful that Pakistan’s constant work will bring permanent peace in the region.
Drawing parallels with the US-led war in Afghanistan, Tirmizi recalled that Pakistan had cautioned Washington after 9/11 that the conflict would prove counterproductive. “They spent trillions, lost thousands of lives, and ultimately the outcome did not change the ground reality,” he said, arguing that similar assumptions about military success against Iran would likely prove flawed.
The ambassador emphasized Pakistan’s deep regional understanding, rooted in its cultural, historical, and political proximity, which informed its early push for de-escalation. He revealed that Islamabad maintained active diplomatic engagement with all key stakeholders including Iran, the United States, Gulf countries, China, and Russia, both before and during the crisis.
“From Washington to Tehran, from Riyadh to Beijing, and in multilateral capitals like New York, Geneva, and Vienna, Pakistan was proactively engaged,” he said, adding that Islamabad helped “create the ground” for dialogue and facilitated initial contacts that led to a ceasefire framework.
According to Tirmizi, Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts included coordination at high-level meetings, such as consultations among the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, and Pakistan, followed by further outreach to China. These steps, he said, were aimed at preventing a broader conflict that could have had severe global repercussions.
Highlighting the inclusive nature of Pakistan’s approach, the ambassador said Islamabad had advocated for a comprehensive ceasefire covering all affected regions, including Lebanon. He pointed out that Lebanon had suffered disproportionately high human losses, reinforcing the urgency of a wider peace arrangement.
Tirmizi also described the ongoing situation as a “tactical disaster,” suggesting that miscalculations by key actors had exacerbated tensions. While noting Pakistan lacks diplomatic ties with Israel, he said Islamabad still used its channels with major powers to convey concerns about the long-term consequences of conflict for all parties, including Israel itself and its regional partners.
Looking ahead, the ambassador confirmed that Pakistan is working toward a second round of negotiations, expressing confidence that sustained diplomacy can yield results. “All conflicts ultimately end at the negotiating table,” he said, adding that Pakistan seeks a settlement where “everyone is a winner.”
He acknowledged that negotiations often begin with maximalist positions but argued that compromise is inherent to the process. “You reach a lowest common factor, and that leads to peace,” he explained, emphasizing that prolonged conflict brings neither political nor economic gains, only human and financial costs.
Reiterating Pakistan’s position as an “honest broker,” Tirmizi concluded that reducing tensions and preventing further escalation remains Islamabad’s top priority. “Egos may matter,” he said, “but human loss and social and political damage matter far more.”
