Pakistan on Wednesday condemned the “reckless” killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, saying it “views with serious concern the growing Israeli adventurism in the region”.
Haniyeh was killed in Iran on Wednesday in a strike at his residency in Tehran. Normally based in Qatar, Haniyeh had travelled to Iran to attend the inauguration of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
“Pakistan condemns the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the Chief of the Political Bureau of Hamas in Tehran today.
“We extend our condolences to his family and the people of Palestine,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in its statement.
The statement added that Islamabad was deeply shocked by the timing of what it called a reckless act as it coincided with the inauguration of the president of Iran, an event attended by several foreign dignitaries, including the Deputy Prime Minister of Pakistan Ishaq Dar.
Dar led Pakistan’s delegation in the inauguration in the absence of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif who had to postpone his visit due to poor health.
“Pakistan views with serious concern the growing Israeli adventurism in the region,” the ministry said.“Its [Israel’s] latest acts constitute a dangerous escalation in an already volatile region and undermine efforts of peace.”
The ministry said Pakistan condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations including extrajudicial and extraterritorial killings irrespective of the motives.
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) president Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman, who met Haniyeh in November last year, said the assassination of the Hamas political chief deeply saddened him.
“When I met Ismail Haniyeh, he was filled with the spirit of martyrdom. His martyrdom has deeply saddened me,” the JUI chief wrote in a post on X.
“Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam stands with Ismail Haniyeh’s family and the people of Palestine in their grief. His martyrdom will not end the Palestinian freedom movement; the sacrifices of Ismail Haniyeh and his family will not be in vain.
Pakistan and Indonesia on Wednesday strongly condemned the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran.
In a statement, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry extended condolences to his family and the people of Palestine.
"Pakistan condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations including extrajudicial and extraterritorial killings irrespective of the motives," said the ministry.
"We are deeply shocked by the timing of this reckless act, coinciding with the inauguration of the President of Iran, an event attended by several foreign dignitaries, including the Deputy Prime Minister of Pakistan," it said.
Islamabad said they view with serious concern the growing Israeli adventurism in the region and its latest acts that constitute a dangerous escalation in an already volatile region and that undermine efforts for peace.
Meanwhile, Indonesia also condemned the assassination, fearing it would exacerbate the ongoing conflict in the densely populated coastal city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.
"It constitutes a provocative action that could escalate conflicts in the region and derail the ongoing negotiation," the Indonesian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Separately, Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles said his country "definitely wants to ensure that we do not see an escalation" because the consequences would be "profound."
Meanwhile, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe also strongly condemned the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh.
In a statement, he further stressed that he would never condone such actions, New Wire reported.
Early Wednesday, the Palestinian group Hamas announced that Haniyeh was killed in an Israeli airstrike on his residence in Tehran.
The Iranian state television confirmed Haniyeh's death, saying an investigation is underway and that the findings will be released soon.
Israel has yet to make an official statement regarding the airstrike on Haniyeh's residence.
Hamas said its political leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in an Israeli strike in the Iranian capital of Tehran, a major development that throws the region into an unpredictable and dangerous new phase.
Israel has neither confirmed nor denied being behind Haniyeh’s assassination. In remarks Wednesday, a defiant Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to keep fighting, saying his country is “ready for any scenario” and has delivered “crushing blows” to its enemies.
Haniyeh was the second figure of an Iran-backed group assassinated in the past day, following the killing by Israel of a senior Hezbollah commander in Lebanon.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed to avenge Haniyeh’s death. “You killed our dear guest in our house and now have paved the way for your harsh punishment,” he said, referring to Israel. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US was “not aware of or involved in” the killing of Haniyeh.
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