Ex AJK President fears prolonged regional war with unpredictable consequences

MIRPUR (AJK) , (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point news - 3rd Mar, 2026) Former President, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Ambassador to the United States, Masood Khan on Tuesday said that the ongoing confrontation involving Iran, the United States, and Israel carried the potential to expand into a wider regional conflict, with serious strategic and political repercussions for the middle East and beyond.

In a televised analysis, Ambassador Masood Khan observed that despite significant leadership losses and sustained military pressure, Iran had demonstrated both resolve and capability in responding to attacks on its territory.

He noted that Iran had shown it could reach strategic targets, thereby altering the military calculus of the conflict.

He cautioned, however, that the combined military weight of the United States and Israel remained formidable.

If hostilities persist for weeks or months, the imbalance in power and coordination could significantly strain Iran’s capacity.

“The duration and scale of this conflict will ultimately depend on the strategic objectives of the principal actors,” he remarked.

Addressing speculation regarding Iran’s nuclear capabilities, Ambassador Khan stated that while Iran had advanced uranium enrichment, international monitoring bodies had not conclusively established the weaponization of its programme. He emphasized that perceptions, rather than confirmed facts, were currently shaping political narratives.

Masood Khan further pointed out that the conflict had triggered ripple effects across the Gulf region.

He explained that attacks on locations hosting foreign military bases had heightened regional tensions, placing Gulf states in a precarious position.

While several Gulf countries had issued strong statements, he underlined, adding that the Primary military engagement remained between Iran and the United States–Israel axis.

He warned that escalation could severely disrupt regional economies, citing the closure of major transit hubs and the vulnerability of energy infrastructure. “Prolonged instability will not spare any state in the region,” he stated.

On internal dynamics within Iran, Ambassador Khan assessed that although there are political divisions and past protests against the regime, external aggression often consolidates national sentiment.

He dismissed speculation about externally engineered regime change, noting that Iran’s political structure, command-and-control mechanisms, and institutional continuity appear intact.

Turning to Pakistan’s security environment, Ambassador Khan underscored that Pakistan continued to face cross-border terrorism emanating from Afghan territory.

He stated that credible reports, including those of the UN Security Council’s 1988 Committee, had documented the presence and facilitation of terrorist networks targeting Pakistan.

He emphasized that Pakistan had shared intelligence with key capitals and international forums, and remained committed to both counter terrorism operations and diplomatic engagement.

He described the broader international environment as unstable and fragmented, noting that multilateral institutions had struggled to respond effectively to cascading crises. Nonetheless, he stressed that diplomacy must remain the primary instrument to prevent further escalation.

“Wars in this region rarely remain confined,” Ambassador Masood Khan concluded.

APP /ahr/378