MUZAFFARABAD:
The former president of Azad Jammu and Kashmira (AJK) and the main diplomat Masood Khan warned that the growing conflict of Iran-Israel could have serious and high-range implications for national security and Pakistan’s stability.
In a series of media interviews, Khan expressed a deep concern about the broad scope of hostilities between Iran and Israel, warning that a prolonged war could trigger a new wave of influx of refugees in Pakistan, similar to the consequences of Afghan conflict.
“If the war extends, there is a great possibility of a massive exodus of Iranian refugees towards Pakistan,” he said, and pointed out that such a scenario would tighten the resources and social fabric of Pakistan.
Khan emphasized that a potentially more dangerous result would be the weakening of the Pakistan-Iran border, making it vulnerable to exploitation by anti-state elements.
“The groups backed by hostile foreign powers, especially India, such as Bla, BLF and other representatives, could infiltrate Pakistan without control, which represents a serious threat to our internal security,” he warned. Touching the strategic reasons behind the military actions of Israel, Khan said that Tel Aviv has headed to Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
“Israel has already attacked nuclear facilities in Natanz, Isfahan, Fordow and other key places where uranium enrichment and missile programs are believed to be based,” he said. “They claim to have neutralized almost 40 percent of Iran’s air defense systems.”
Khan said that Israel is pressing the United States to intervene directly in the conflict or allow Israel to use tactical nuclear weapons against Iran.
“Israel is pressing for the use of bunker-buster pumps or underground nuclear strikes that, according to them, would limit the radioactive consequences to underground areas,” he explained.
