A day after announcing plans to nominate U.S. President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, Pakistan has sharply condemned the American-led airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, calling the move a violation of international law and a dangerous escalation in regional tensions.
In an official statement issued Sunday, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, “The unprecedented escalation of tension and violence, owing to ongoing aggression against Iran, is deeply disturbing. Any further escalation of tensions will have severely damaging implications for the region and beyond.” The ministry reiterated that diplomatic engagement remains the only viable path to resolving the growing crisis between the U.S. and Iran.
The condemnation came less than 24 hours after Islamabad praised Trump’s diplomatic intervention in brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan last month and described him as a “genuine peacemaker.” That announcement included plans to formally recommend Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize for helping avert conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbours.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke by phone with Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian to express Pakistan’s opposition to the U.S. strikes. “The Prime Minister conveyed Pakistan’s condemnation of the U.S. attacks,” read a statement from Sharif’s office.
Meanwhile, large protests erupted in Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city, where thousands took to the streets to denounce both the U.S. and Israel for their roles in the military campaign against Iran. Demonstrators chanted slogans against America, Israel, and India, and stomped on an American flag bearing Trump’s image laid across a city street.
The apparent contradiction in Pakistan’s positions—lauding Trump one day, condemning him the next—prompted confusion, but officials from the foreign and information ministries declined to respond to requests for clarification.
As diplomatic fallout intensified, the United Nations Security Council convened an emergency meeting on Sunday to address the escalating situation. Russia, China, and Pakistan jointly submitted a draft resolution calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire across the Middle East and condemning attacks on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
Although the draft does not explicitly name the United States or Israel, diplomats say the language clearly targets the recent airstrikes. The U.S., which holds veto power, is expected to oppose the resolution.
The proposed resolution requires at least nine votes from the 15-member council and no vetoes from any of the five permanent members—China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States—in order to pass. Members have until Monday evening to submit feedback on the draft text.
