Pakistan says no new military cooperation with Iran, direct talks with US amid Israeli strikes

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said on Monday Islamabad had not engaged in any new military cooperation with Tehran since Israel launched attacks on Iran last week and had not held specific talks with the United States over the escalating crisis in the Middle East.

Iran, which borders Pakistan, has hit back with strikes against Israel after it unleashed waves of attacks on Friday at Iranian nuclear installations, missile stockpiles, scientists, and military generals, among other targets, sparking global alarm that the conflict could erupt into a regional war.

The latest escalation follows months of hostilities between Israel and Iranian-backed groups in Lebanon, Syria and Yemen, which intensified after the war in Gaza was launched late in 2023. Regional powers fear a direct confrontation could spiral into a broader conflict involving major oil shipping lanes and global energy supplies. For Pakistan, a close Iranian neighbor and a longtime opponent of Israel, a prolonged conflict risks disrupting border security, inflaming sectarian tensions at home, and possibly putting it in a tight spot with other Arab allies and the West.

Speaking in an interview to Arab News, Asif said regular security cooperation was continuing with Iran along their shared border to combat militant groups, but no fresh operational coordination had been initiated in response to Israel’s attacks on Iranian territory since June 13.

“I don’t see any need of [it],” the defense minister said in response to a question on whether Pakistan’s military was coordinating with Iranian counterparts on the border or engaging in any fresh defense cooperation.

“We coordinate on a very regular basis as far as the Iran and Pakistan border is concerned because of terrorist activities… that sort of cooperation is already on. So I don’t see any new activity.”

Asked if Pakistan had held talks with Washington to discuss the fast-evolving situation, the defense minister said there had been no recent contact specifically on the crisis in the past five days:

“But we are in constant touch with the United States of America regarding the tense situation we have in this region.”

Asif said Pakistan’s leadership was instead focused on engagement with close partners like China and Muslim countries to press for calm, warning that the conflict risked engulfing the entire region.

“The countries who have religious affinity with us or geographical affinity, even China or other countries, because what we are pursuing is peace,” he said.

“And we would like to mobilize the countries of this region that this conflict can multiply and it can engulf the whole region into a situation which could be very, very disastrous.”

Smoke rises from a fire, as the Israel-Iran air war continues, in Tehran, Iran, in this still image obtained from social media video released June 17, 2025. (Social Media via REUTERS)

NUCLEAR FACILITIES “MILITANTLY GUARDED”

Diplomatic and security experts warn that the Israel-Iran hostilities could affect Pakistan by destabilizing its western border with Iran, threatening energy imports as oil prices surge, and creating new pressures in Pakistan’s relations with the US and Gulf partners if Islamabad is seen as tilting too far toward Tehran. On the other hand, if Tehran were to fall or be severely weakened, analysts say Pakistan would likely side with the United States and its allies — despite being Iran’s immediate neighbor — to protect its strategic and economic interests.

Addressing concerns over past remarks by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that have drawn parallels between Iran and Pakistan as so-called “militant Islamic regimes” that needed to be deterred, Asif rejected any immediate threat to Pakistan from Tel Aviv but stressed Islamabad would remain vigilant.

“If we are threatened by Israel, which I will discount at the moment… what happens in the coming months or years I can’t predict, but at the moment I discount [a threat from Israel],” he said.

Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif speaks with Arab News Pakistan in Islamabad, Pakistan, on June 17, 2025. (AN photo)

He described Israel as a state with “hegemonic intent” whose recent actions in Gaza and against Iran were “extremely dangerous to the immediate region,” and said global public opinion was turning against Israeli policies despite support or muted reactions from many Western governments.

Asif declined to comment on reports that Pakistan had scrambled fighter jets near its nuclear sites and the Iranian border in response to Israel’s initial strikes on Iran but insisted that its nuclear security remained robust.

In addition to the Middle East tensions, Pakistan faced a major military standoff with India last month in which the two nations exchanged missile, drone and artillery attacks. Islamabad claimed to have shot down six Indian jets and struck back at military positions, triggering fears of a wider conflict between the nuclear-armed rivals before a ceasefire was announced by the President Donald Trump administration on May 10.

When questioned about any direct threat to Pakistan’s national security or strategic assets as a result of the conflict in the Middle East, the defense minister said Pakistan’s armed forces were already on high alert following the latest confrontation with New Delhi, describing the country’s nuclear facilities as “very militantly guarded, very grudgingly guarded” and fully compliant with international safeguards.

“Since our short war with India [in May], we have been on alert so we have not lowered guards… We can never take the risk of any attack on our nuclear facility from anywhere, that is something which is a lifeline as far as our defense is concerned,” he said

Asif said Pakistan’s performance in the recent fight with India was evidence of the country’s defense capability and national resolve, which would deter Israel from any adventurism.

“We have just had a bout with India and we clearly established our superiority, the superiority of our armed forces, Air Force, Pakistan Army, Pakistan Navy and the determination of our people, the way the nation stood behind the armed forces,” the defense minister said.

“So I think Netanyahu or his people or his government will think many times before taking on Pakistan.”

U.S. President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shake hands as they attend a joint press conference at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 13, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab

Summary Modi denies US mediation in India-Pakistan ceasefire

Ceasefire achieved through direct military talks, says Indian Foreign Secretary Misri

Trump expressed support for India’s anti-terrorism efforts, Modi invited him to India

NEW DELHI, June 18 (Reuters) – India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi told U.S. President Donald Trump late on Tuesday that a ceasefire between India and Pakistan after a four-day conflict in May was achieved through talks between the two militaries and not U.S. mediation, India’s senior-most diplomat said.

Trump had said last month that the nuclear-armed South Asian neighbours agreed to a ceasefire after talks mediated by the U.S., and that the hostilities ended after he urged the countries to focus on trade instead of war.

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India has previously denied any third-party mediation and Tuesday’s phone call between Modi and Trump on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada, which Modi attended as a guest, is their first direct exchange since the May 7-10 conflict.

“PM Modi told President Trump clearly that during this period, there was no talk at any stage on subjects like India-U.S. trade deal or U.S. mediation between India and Pakistan,” Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said in a press statement.

“Talks for ceasing military action happened directly between India and Pakistan through existing military channels, and on the insistence of Pakistan. Prime Minister Modi emphasised that India has not accepted mediation in the past and will never do,” he said.

Misri said the two leaders were due to meet on the sidelines of G7 summit but Trump left a day early due to the situation in the Middle East.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the Modi-Trump call.

Pakistan has previously said that the ceasefire happened after its military returned a call the Indian military had initiated on May 7.

The heaviest fighting in decades between India and Pakistan was sparked by an April 22 attack in Indian Kashmir that killed 26 people, most of them tourists. New Delhi blamed the incident on “terrorists” backed by Pakistan, a charge denied by Islamabad.

On May 7, Indian jets bombed what New Delhi called “terrorist infrastructure” sites across the border, triggering tit-for-tat strikes spread over four days in which both sides used fighter jets, missiles, drones and artillery.

Misri said that Trump expressed his support for India’s fight against terrorism and that Modi told him India’s Operation Sindoor under which it launched the cross border strikes was still on.

Trump also asked Modi if he could stop by the U.S. on his return from Canada, Misri said, but the Indian leader expressed his inability to do so due to a pre-decided schedule. He invited Trump to visit India later this year for the summit of the leaders of the Quad grouping, which Trump accepted, Misri said.

Reporting by Shivam Patel; Additional reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt in Washington and Sakshi Dayal in New Delhi; Editing by Tom Hogue

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Setting the record straight, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told US President Donald Trump during a phone call that the US had no role in brokering the ceasefire between India and Pakistan last month and there was no discussion on a US-India trade deal during the hostilities.

PM Modi also declined Trump’s invite for a stop-over visit to Washington DC on his way back from the G7 Summit in Canada, citing his scheduled visit to Croatia on June 18.

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Shedding light on the 35-minute conversation, which came at Trump’s request, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said, “PM Modi clearly told President Trump that during the entire course of events, at no point, and at no level, was there any discussion about a US-India trade deal or about US mediation between India and Pakistan.”

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announced that Prime Minister @narendramodi had a telephonic conversation with US President #DonaldTrump, which lasted approximately 35 minutes. During the discussion, PM Modi briefed President Trump about Operation Sindoor. PM Modi clarified that pic.twitter.com/1RuPVc778V— DD News (@DDNewslive) June 18, 2025

This was the first conversation between the two leaders since India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, and comes hours ahead of a meeting between Pakistan’s Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Trump.

“The Prime Minister said the talks regarding cessation of military action were held directly between India and Pakistan under the existing channels established between both militaries. It was done at Pakistan’s request,” Misri further said.

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Trump has repeatedly claimed that he mediated the ceasefire and the threat of cutting off trade forced the countries to stop the hostilities. However, India has rejected his claims, saying the ceasefire was directly negotiated upon Pakistan’s insistence.

PM MODI BRIEFS TRUMP ON OPERATION SINDOOR

The scheduled meeting of the two leaders on the sidelines of the G7 Summit could not take place as Trump rushed back to the United States on Tuesday amid the escalating Israel-Iran conflict.

During the call, PM Modi briefed Trump on Operation Sindoor, emphasising that India’s actions were “measured, precise, and non-escalatory”.

PM Modi also revealed that on the night of May 9, US Vice President JD Vance had alerted India about a potential large-scale Pakistani attack. PM Modi told Trump that India had made it clear that it would respond with even greater force if provoked.

On the intervening night of May 9-10, Pakistan launched a wave of drone and missile attacks, to which India responded by inflicting significant damage on Pakistani forces, rendering some of their military airbases inoperable.

The Prime Minister firmly told the US President that any future Pakistani aggression would be met with a stronger retaliatory response.

PM Modi also reiterated India’s long-standing position on third-party mediation on the Kashmir issue.

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“India has never accepted, does not accept, and will never accept mediation on the Kashmir issue,” he told Trump. PM Modi underscored that there was complete political consensus in India on this matter.

PM INVITES TRUMP TO INDIA FOR QUAD SUMMIT

During the call, President Trump asked if PM Modi could stop by the US on his return from Canada. However, PM Modi expressed his inability to do so due to prior commitments.

However, PM Modi invited Trump to visit India for the upcoming QUAD Summit. Trump accepted the invitation even though he did not confirm his participation.

The two leaders reaffirmed the strategic importance of QUAD in ensuring stability in the Indo-Pacific – a region where China is seeking to dominate.

PM Modi and Trump also discussed the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict. On the Russia-Ukraine war, both agreed that direct negotiations between the two countries were essential for peace, and pledged to support such efforts.

Published By: Devika Bhattacharya Published On: Jun 18, 2025

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi firmly maintained during a late Tuesday conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump that the May ceasefire between India and Pakistan, following a brief four-day conflict, was the result of direct military discussions between the two countries.

This statement contradicts Trump’s previous month’s remarks, where he claimed that the U.S. helped mediate a cessation of hostilities, urging both nations to focus on trade over conflict. Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri reiterated that no such discussions involved U.S. mediation.

Misri stated that the ceasefire talks occurred through existing military communication channels at Pakistan’s insistence, emphasizing India’s long-standing policy against external mediation. The call, reportedly lasting 35 minutes, took place at Trump’s request during the G7 summit sidelines in Canada, which Modi attended as a guest.

(With inputs from agencies.)

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi said a ceasefire with Pakistan was achieved through talks between the two countries’ militaries. PHOTO: REUTERS

PM Modi maintains there was no US mediation in ceasefire with Pakistan

NEW DELHI – India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi maintained in a conversation with US President Donald Trump on June 17 that a ceasefire between India and Pakistan after a four-day conflict in May was achieved through talks between the two militaries and not US mediation, India’s senior-most diplomat said.

Mr Trump said in May that the nuclear-armed South Asian neighbours agreed to a ceasefire after talks mediated by the US, and that the hostilities ended after he urged them to focus on trade instead of war.

“PM Modi told President Trump clearly that during this period, there was no talk at any stage on subjects like India-US trade deal or US mediation between India and Pakistan,” Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said in a press statement.

“Talks for ceasing military action happened directly between India and Pakistan through existing military channels, and on the insistence of Pakistan. Prime Minister Modi emphasised that India has not accepted mediation in the past and will never do,” he added.

Mr Misri said the two leaders spoke over the phone at the insistence of Mr Trump on the sidelines of the G-7 summit in Canada which Mr Modi attended as a guest. The call lasted 35 minutes.

Pakistan previously said the ceasefire happened after its military returned a call the Indian military initiated on May 7. REUTERS

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