As tensions between Iran and Israel escalate with no signs of slowing down, seasoned diplomat and former President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Masood Khan, has issued a sober warning: Pakistan may not remain on the sidelines if this conflict deepens.
In recent media interviews, Masood Khan didn’t mince his words. He spoke with the kind of concern that only comes from experience — both as a statesman and someone who has seen the regional consequences of war up close. “What’s unfolding between Iran and Israel isn’t just a Middle Eastern crisis — it has the potential to spill over, and Pakistan could be directly in its path,” he cautioned.
One of the most immediate fears, he explained, is a potential refugee influx. “If the conflict drags on, Pakistan could face a new wave of Iranian refugees, just like we did after the Afghan war,” he said. “And we know from experience that such a crisis stretches more than just resources. It tests the resilience of our institutions, communities, and social cohesion.”
But his concerns don’t stop at humanitarian fallout.
According to Masood Khan, the security risks could be even more alarming. A protracted conflict, he fears, could weaken the already sensitive Pakistan-Iran border, opening it up to infiltration by hostile actors and foreign-backed proxies. “Groups like the BLA and BLF — already tools in the hands of foreign powers, especially India — could take advantage of the chaos,” he warned. “They would slip through unchecked and cause serious trouble inside Pakistan.”
Khan also gave chilling insight into Israel’s military strategy, describing it as not just aggressive, but dangerously calculated. “Israel has already targeted key nuclear and missile sites in Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow — places central to Iran’s defense capabilities,” he said. “And they’re now claiming to have dismantled nearly 40% of Iran’s air defense systems.”
But what truly raised eyebrows was Khan’s reference to the growing push for nuclear options. According to him, Israel is lobbying hard to get the green light — from the United States or even unilaterally — to deploy tactical nuclear weapons. “They’re considering using bunker-buster bombs or even underground nuclear strikes,” he revealed. “Their argument is that it would avoid above-ground radioactive fallout. But the world has seen where that logic leads.”
Masood Khan’s message is clear: this isn’t just a regional crisis. The Iran-Israel conflict is rapidly turning into a situation with global consequences — and Pakistan is sitting in the danger zone.
“This is the time for serious diplomacy, not silence. Pakistan must prepare for the humanitarian, security, and geopolitical shocks that could come our way,” he said in conclusion. “If we think we’re too far to be affected, we’re making a dangerous mistake.”
