Pakistan PM convenes political leaders to discuss Iran crisis, regional tensions

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chairs a meeting of parliamentary leaders and representatives of political parties in Islamabad, on March 4, 2026. (PMO)
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Updated 04 March 2026
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Pakistan PM convenes political leaders to discuss Iran crisis, regional tensions

  • Leaders of major parties attend meeting on regional security and Pakistan’s military campaign
  • Parliamentarians call for national unity and cohesion under current circumstances, says PMO 

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif briefed leaders of various parliamentary parties on Wednesday about the ongoing crisis in Iran and Pakistan’s ongoing military conflict with Afghanistan, his office said in a statement. 

The meeting comes as Pakistan has intensified military operations against the Afghan Taliban and militant groups targeting its civilians and security forces along its western frontier, while the wider region faces growing instability after recent US-Israeli strikes on Iran and subsequent attacks across the Gulf.

Sharif decided to convene the session to update the leaders of various political parties in parliament on the security situation and Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach as tensions spread across the region.

“Participants emphasized the need for national unity, consensus and cohesion in the current circumstances,” the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a statement. 

The statement said parliamentarians appreciated Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts for peace in the region and stressed the need to accelerate them further.

They presented suggestions to the government on what its future course of action should be.

“All participants reaffirmed their strong resolve to eliminate terrorism from the country,” the statement said. 

Representatives of major political parties, including the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Pakistan Peoples Party, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, Muttahida Qaumi Movement and other parliamentary groups attended the briefing.

Pakistan has accused Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities of allowing militant groups such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to operate from Afghan territory, allegations Kabul denies. Islamabad says it has targeted militant hideouts across the border after repeatedly raising the issue with Afghan officials.

The briefing also comes as the government closely monitors developments in the Middle East, where regional tensions have heightened concerns about energy supplies and broader security implications for the country.


Pakistan highlights Gwadar transshipment role as shipping routes face disruption over regional tensions

Updated 05 March 2026
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Pakistan highlights Gwadar transshipment role as shipping routes face disruption over regional tensions

  • Pakistani ports possess “untapped potential” to attract global shipping lines for transshipment operations, says minister
  • Pakistan eyes leveraging Gwadar as regional transshipment hub as Iran’s closure of Strait of Hormuz disrupts global maritime trade

KARACHI: Pakistan’s Maritime Affairs Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry on Thursday highlighted the importance of the port city of Gwadar’s transshipment role as major shipping routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, face disruption due to Iran’s ongoing conflict with the US and Israel in the Gulf. 

The meeting takes place as Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway that lies between it and Oman. It is one of the world’s most critical oil transit routes, with roughly 20 percent of global oil supplies passing through it. Iran has vowed it will attack any ship that enters the strait, causing energy prices to rise sharply on Monday amid disruptions to tanker traffic in the waterway.

Gwadar is a deep-sea port in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province that lies close to the Strait of Hormuz. Pakistani officials have in the past highlighted Gwadar’s geostrategic position as the shortest trade route to the Gulf and Central Asia, stressing that it has the potential to become a regional transshipment hub.

Chaudhry chaired a high-level meeting of government officials to assess emerging logistical challenges facing Pakistan’s trade, particularly in the energy sector, amid tensions in the Gulf. 

“Special focus was placed on fully leveraging the potential of Gwadar Port as a regional transshipment hub and positioning it as an alternative of regional instability,” Pakistan’s maritime affairs ministry said in a statement. 

The minister said Pakistani ports possessed “significant untapped potential” to attract international shipping lines for transshipment operations, noting that it could also ensure long-term sustainability and growth of the country’s maritime sector.

Participants of the meeting discussed measures to strengthen Pakistan’s position as a viable alternative transit and transshipment destination, as key waterways are affected by the disruption. 

The committee also reviewed proposals to amend relevant rules and regulations to facilitate international transshipment operations through on-dock and off-dock terminals.

The chairmen of the Port Qasim Authority, Karachi Port Trust and Gwadar Port Authority attended the meeting, briefing committee members on the current operational readiness of their ports. They spoke about the available capacity for container transshipment, bulk cargo handling and refueling services at Pakistani ports. 

The port in Gwadar is a central part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), under which Beijing has funneled tens of billions of dollars into massive transport, energy and infrastructure projects in Pakistan.

Pakistan has long eyed the deep-sea port as a key asset that can help boost its trade with Central Asian states, the Gulf region and ensure the country earns valuable foreign exchange.