Naqvi lauds PM, military role in Iran-Israel ceasefire

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has lauded the pivotal roles played by the prime minister and the country’s military leadership in securing a successful Iran-Israel ceasefire.

Addressing a gathering of religious scholars from diverse schools of thought in Islamabad, Naqvi underscored the leadership’s “significant role” in convincing international leaders and achieving a resolution.

“The way international leaders were convinced and how the matter reached a resolution — our leadership played a significant role in it,” Naqvi stated, attributing a major part of the success to the prime minister and also acknowledging the “uniform (military)” behind the efforts.

Expressing his gratitude for the scholars’ presence, Naqvi emphasized their crucial role in society and their unwavering efforts towards maintaining peace. He stressed the paramount importance of promoting religious harmony, especially during Muharram. “Our collective belief should be: do not abandon your own sect, but also do not interfere with others,” he urged. “Imam Hussain (AS) does not belong to one sect—He (AS) belongs to all.”

The interior minister shared compelling anecdotes from the past conflicts with India, attributing miraculous outcomes to divine intervention. He recounted an instance during a missile strike where a numerical discrepancy led to fears of civilian casualties. “We feared the missile would hit a populated area, but by divine will, it struck their largest oil depot, causing a massive fire. The biggest blaze seen in Indian videos was from that very missile,” Naqvi revealed, highlighting Pakistan’s restraint in not targeting civilians despite provocation.

In another account, he described how 9 to 11 Indian missiles aimed at a Pakistani airbase, housing critical aircraft and personnel, miraculously missed their target. “But not a single missile hit the base — some fell ahead and some behind. These are examples of divine intervention, which we witnessed with our own eyes,” he affirmed. Naqvi also reiterated a firm stance taken by the then Army Chief, who had declared that India would suffer “four times more” if they launched an attack, a prediction Naqvi claimed came true.

Turning to the internal security situation, Naqvi declared that terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa “cannot end until local support is eliminated”. The minister further elaborated on his strategy to counter terrorism, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where it is currently “at its peak.” He stated, “We will go together and meet scholars there, especially in areas where terrorism is most prevalent, because terrorism can only be eliminated when local people stop supporting terrorists. The day that support ends, terrorists will no longer be able to live in those streets, neighborhoods, or villages.”

He announced plans to visit religious scholars across all schools of thought after Muharram. A significant initiative will see all scholars together offering Zuhr prayers at Faisal Mosque on August 14, a move intended to “send a message to the world that we are united.”