A senior Pakistani diplomat has warned that the escalating conflict in the Middle East has taken the shape of one of the largest military confrontations since World War II, posing the risk of a major global energy and economic crisis.
Sardar Masood Khan, former President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and former Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States, China, and the United Nations, said in a statement today that the crisis has moved far beyond limited military skirmishes to become a widespread regional conflict.
According to Khan, approximately fourteen countries are now either under direct attack or participating in military operations, while its broader strategic implications are affecting twenty-two countries. He pointed out that its effects are being felt in regions as far-flung as North America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific.
The former ambassador pointed out that global economic stability is being severely affected, and rising oil and gas prices are creating uncertainty in international financial markets. He emphasized that major East Asian economies, including China, Japan, and South Korea, are feeling intense pressure.
Khan warned that continued disruptions in key maritime routes, particularly the Strait of Hormuz, could plunge the world into a severe energy and economic crisis.
Discussing the impact on Pakistan, Khan expressed concern that instability in neighboring Iran could pose serious security challenges to the country’s western border. He explained that long-term internal unrest or civil war in Iran’s border regions could manifest as increased security threats in Balochistan and a rise in cross-border militant activities.
He explained that Pakistan has adopted a balanced and constructive policy, under which relations with the United States were strengthened and strategic cooperation with Gulf countries was enhanced even before the conflict began. A strategic mutual defense pact was also signed with Saudi Arabia to bolster Pakistan’s security and economic stability.
Khan added that Islamabad is committed to a policy of de-escalation and is promoting dialogue through continuous contact with Gulf states, Iran, and other regional parties. However, he stressed that the key decisions determining the course of the conflict are being made in Washington and Tel Aviv.
Highlighting the global political context, the veteran diplomat said that although Russia and China have criticized the escalation and offered diplomatic support to Iran, both powers seem reluctant to get directly involved for fear of triggering a wider global war.
He concluded with the stark warning that the continuation of this conflict poses a grave threat not only to the Middle East but to the entire global order. Khan urged the international community to act immediately through restraint, active diplomacy, and concerted efforts to prevent the conflict from spreading further.