Pakistan facilitates evacuation of nationals from Iran amid widening regional conflict

Pakistan has begun facilitating the evacuation of its citizens from Iran and assisting nationals stranded across the region as a widening conflict in the Middle East disrupts travel and security conditions, officials said Thursday.

The country’s Foreign Office said the measures were taken to ensure the safety of Pakistani nationals as hostilities continue to escalate across the region.

In a statement, Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Pakistan had activated its Crisis Management Unit, which is operating around the clock to monitor developments and assist citizens abroad.

The steps were taken in light of the “evolving regional situation” to safeguard overseas Pakistanis, the ministry said.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has also directed Pakistani diplomatic missions to establish special facilitation desks to assist stranded nationals with visa processing, logistics and travel arrangements, Andrabi said.

Pakistani missions abroad have launched dedicated registration portals, applications and helplines to coordinate assistance and maintain contact with citizens, the spokesperson added. Missions are also working with host governments to secure necessary consular support.

With limited air connectivity resuming in parts of the region, some Pakistanis have begun returning to their destinations through commercial flights, Andrabi said.

The government remains committed to ensuring the safety and timely return of overseas Pakistanis, the Foreign Office said, adding that emergency contact details and advisories are available on the ministry’s website.

The evacuation effort comes as the conflict spreads beyond its initial front lines. On Wednesday, a U.S. submarine sank an Iranian warship off Sri Lanka, while NATO air defenses intercepted an Iranian missile fired toward Turkey.

Most airspace across parts of the Middle East and surrounding regions has been closed because of the risk of missiles striking civilian aircraft, prompting governments to rush evacuation plans for their citizens.

Pakistan’s ambassador to Iran, Mudassir Tipu, said nearly 1,000 Pakistani nationals — including students, businesspeople and pilgrims — had already left Iran since the conflict began, according to Reuters.

About 35,000 Pakistanis are believed to be living in Iran, he said.

“There are now serious challenges. As you know there is no internet in most parts of Iran,” Tipu said.

Iran has launched retaliatory ballistic missile attacks targeting Israel and U.S. allies in the Gulf — including Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia — after U.S. and Israeli airstrikes killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday.

Pakistan, which shares a long border with Iran, is navigating a delicate diplomatic situation as it seeks to maintain improving ties with Washington while expressing solidarity with Tehran.