High-level meeting reviews Pakistan’s security situation amid regional, internal developments

A high-level meeting to review the regional and internal security situation of Pakistan was held in Islamabad on Sunday with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the chair.

The meeting took a detailed review of the prevailing regional environment and overall security dynamics in the region, the PM Office Media Wing said in a handout.

Pakistan’s role and various measures for the promotion of peace and stability in the region were also discussed.

During the meeting, the situation in Afghanistan also came under consideration with detail.

Participants were also briefed on the country’s internal security situation and the arrangements in place to ensure law and order.

On the prime minister’s directives, the meeting reviewed measures for the evacuation of Pakistani nationals from Iran. The Foreign Office gave a detailed briefing on efforts being undertaken to ensure their safe return.

It was informed that evacuation is being facilitated through Azerbaijan.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, federal ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Mohsin Naqvi, Azam Nazeer Tarar, Ahad Khan Cheema, Attaullah Tarar, Ali Pervaiz Malik, Special Assistant to PM Tariq Fatemi, and senior civil and military officials.

The development comes as Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the opening salvo of a massive US and Israeli attack that extended into a second day on Sunday, as the two powers seek to topple the Islamic republic, AFP reported.

READ MORE: Ayatollah Khamenei assassinated in US-Israeli airstrikes: state media

Iranian state television confirmed Khamenei’s death early Sunday, hours after US President Donald Trump declared that Khamenei died in the conflict that had defined his rule of Iran, and a senior Israeli official told Reuters his body had been found following US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran.

Meanwhile, in view of the evolving regional situation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has activated its Crisis Management Unit (CMU) to closely monitor developments and extend all necessary assistance.

The CMU is operational 24/7, the Foreign Office said in a statement.

For information or emergency assistance, please contact the CMU: +92-51-9207887

“All Pakistani nationals residing in the Gulf region are strongly advised to exercise utmost caution, remain indoors where possible, avoid unnecessary travel, and strictly adhere to the instructions and advisories issued by the respective host governments,” the FO spokesperson said on Sunday in a press release.

Earlier, extending condolences on the martyrdom of Khamenei, PM Shehbaz said the government and the people of Pakistan joined the people of Iran in their hour of grief and sorrow.

“Pakistan also expresses concern over violation of the norms of international law. It is an age old convention that the heads of state/government should not be targeted,” the PM said, according to the PM Office Media Wing.

Shehbaz also prayed for the departed soul. “May Allah Almighty grant patience and strength to the Iranian people to bear this irreparable loss,” he added.

Operation Ghazb-lil-Haq

On the flip side, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar has released a significant operational update regarding ‘Operation Ghazb-lil-Haq’, detailing extensive casualties and material damage sustained by the Afghan Taliban.

In a post on social media platform X, the minister on Sunday shared summary of the losses recorded across Afghanistan. According to the official data, the ongoing operation has resulted in the killing of 415 Afghan Taliban personnel, while more than 580 others have been reported injured so far since inception of the operation earlier this week.

Military strikes have successfully destroyed 182 check posts and led to the capture of an additional 31 posts, it said.

The minister’s report also detailed the destruction of heavy military hardware, including 185 tanks, armoured vehicles, and artillery guns. These tactical gains were bolstered by precision aerial engagements, with the minister confirming that 46 locations across Afghanistan were effectively targeted by air strikes.

Meanwhile, international community has expressed increasing concern about the conflict and called for urgent talks.

Amid clashes, Pakistan’s strikes on Friday hit Taliban military installations and posts, including in Kabul and Kandahar, in one of the deepest Pakistani incursions into its western neighbour in years, officials said.

Islamabad accuses the Taliban of harbouring Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists, who it claims are waging terrorism inside Pakistan, a charge the Taliban denies. Pakistan described its actions as a response to cross-border assaults, while Kabul denounced them as a breach of its sovereignty, saying it remained open to dialogue but warned any wider conflict would result in serious consequences. The fighting has raised the risk of a protracted conflict along the rugged 2,600-km (1,615-mile) frontier.