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ISLAMABAD:
Islamabad is closely monitoring the situation in Iran and does not want unrest in the neighboring country as any major instability across the border would have far-reaching implications for Pakistan’s security, economy and regional standing.
Islamabad understands that a section of the Iranian population is protesting against inflation, unemployment and the rising cost of living, but there is also clear concern within Pakistan’s diplomatic and security circles that Iranian dissidents based abroad are actively trying to amplify the unrest and push it in a particular political direction.
“Pakistan is very cautious. This is an internal matter of Iran. However, we are closely monitoring the situation,” a government official said, adding that Pakistan’s government has no interest in seeing chaos in neighboring Iran.
“Any prolonged instability will spread to the region, and Pakistan would be among the first countries to feel the impact,” the official said, although he asked not to be identified given the sensitivity of the issue.
Reflecting these concerns, Pakistan issued a travel warning for Iran and activated a contingency plan to assist its nationals if the situation deteriorates further. The advisory came amid reports of violence in several Iranian cities, temporary internet outages and increased security deployments.
Pakistani Ambassador to Iran Mudassir Tipu urged Pakistani citizens to strictly follow immigration and travel requirements. “All Pakistani citizens traveling to Pakistan from Iran must ensure that they have a valid visa or exit stamp (Kharooj) in their passports,” he said.
“Students can ensure that they have clearance certificates from their universities. Otherwise, the Iranian immigration authorities will not allow them to travel until they complete the necessary procedures,” the ambassador said in a statement.
He also warned that those traveling by road should arrive at the border points well before the closing time and coordinate their travel within Pakistan in advance. “We are always available for any help,” said the ambassador.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: “In view of the current situation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan has issued a travel advisory regarding Iran. Our citizens are kindly requested to comply with the advisory. We will be very grateful for your cooperation and understanding and will do our best to assist you.”
The unrest in Iran has drawn strong reactions from Washington and Tel Aviv, with both the United States and Israel openly backing calls for political change. US President Donald Trump has gone a step further and threatened military action if Iranian security forces kill protesters.
His comments were met with a strong response from Tehran, with the speaker of the Iranian parliament, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, warning that any attack on Iran would trigger attacks on Israel and US military facilities in the region.
Despite the heated rhetoric, analysts warn against drawing premature conclusions about regime change. “I have seen four protest movements in Iran in the last three decades and there is still no sign that the current protests could lead to regime change,” Muhammad Hussain Bakari, an Iran-based international affairs expert, told The Express PAkGazette.
Bakari said most of the protesters were peaceful citizens expressing genuine economic grievances. “But around 10 to 15% are armed and apparently supported by external actors who are attacking state institutions,” he added, arguing that this factor has complicated the situation and hardened the state’s response.
For Pakistan, the stakes are high. According to analysts, any prolonged instability in Iran could disrupt cross-border trade, fuel smuggling networks, complicate border management in Balochistan and increase refugee pressures.
A broader regional escalation involving the United States or Israel could also put Pakistan in a difficult diplomatic position, given its ties to Iran, Gulf countries and China. Officials say Islamabad’s priority remains stability in its neighbor. “Pakistan does not want to see Iran weakened or fractured,” said one diplomat. “The lesson from the region is clear: chaos is not limited to borders.”
As tensions continue to simmer, Pakistan is treading a cautious line, urging its citizens to stay safe, avoiding public posturing and quietly hoping that Iran’s internal crisis does not lead to a regional conflagration.
