Iran’s Military Chief Thanks Pakistan in Rare Call

In a significant diplomatic gesture, Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, Chief of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces, officially thanked Field Marshal and Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Asim Munir. The call came after Pakistan’s supportive stance during the recent Iran–Israel 12-day conflict, described by Tehran as an “unprovoked war.”

• Participants: Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi (Iran) and Field Marshal Asim Munir (Pakistan)

• Context: 12-day war initiated by Israeli strikes on June 13, with U.S. air strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites on June 22; ceasefire around June 24

• Reason for thanks: Pakistan’s principled and courageous diplomatic support for Iran

• Main takeaway: Both nations pledged to maintain strong diplomatic and defense communication

• Diplomatic significance
  This marks a rare public acknowledgment from Iran’s military to Pakistan, signaling both countries' readiness to deepen communication and strategic cooperation 

• Regional solidarity
  Iran highlighted that Pakistan’s “bold positions” inspired other nations in the Muslim world to speak up, potentially increasing diplomatic pressure on U.S. and Israeli policies

• Reaffirmation of Pakistan’s neutrality stance
  Pakistan emphasized its commitment to regional stability and non-alignment, underscoring its value as a constructive regional partner.

Iran termed the conflict a 12‑day imposed war by Israel, supported by the U.S. and other Western nations 

Israeli strikes reportedly killed senior Iranian commanders and nuclear scientists, targeting civilian infrastructure 

Iran responded with missile and drone counterstrikes, subsequently forcing a ceasefire after inflicting significant damage 

Gen. Mousavi stressed that Western military and political support for Israel could not diminish Tehran’s defensive achievements 

• Field Marshal Asim Munir reaffirmed Pakistan’s long-standing diplomatic ties with Iran, praising Islamabad’s historic commitment to peace and dialogue 

• Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Foreign Office statements underlined Pakistan’s support for diplomatic solutions and regional stability, congratulating Iran on the ceasefire and commending Pakistan’s diplomatic conduct during the crisis

Deepening Bilateral Ties

Pakistan and Iran share a long history of cooperation—military, economic, and cultural. This call could pave the way for enhanced defense diplomacy and strategic alignment [[turn0search11]].

Regional Security Messaging

With rising U.S.–Iran tensions and Israeli actions spilling into Iran, Pakistan’s stance may influence broader Muslim-majority countries facing similar pressures.

Neutral Diplomatic Positioning

By voicing support for diplomatic dialogue rather than military intervention, Pakistan reaffirms its role as a mediator between regional power poles.

Rising Influence of Military Diplomacy

This gesture underlines the increasing role military leaders are playing in shaping regional diplomacy—an important trend in Pakistan’s foreign affairs.

The phone call between Iran’s military chief and Pakistan’s army chief reflects rising military-level diplomacy in South Asia. It acknowledges Pakistan’s diplomatic role during Iran’s conflict with Israel and the U.S. and reaffirms Islamabad’s commitment to regional peace. With both sides pledging continued communication, this move could lead to stronger defense ties and strategic collaboration, boosting stability and mutual trust between the two neighboring countries.