RAWALPINDI, 31 October, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Pakistan is cautiously optimistic about its ongoing mediation efforts between Iran and the United States, Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said on Friday, describing recent diplomatic engagements as a potentially positive sign towards easing regional tensions. Speaking in Rawalpindi, the military spokesperson said Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir’s two visits to Tehran this month reflected some encouraging developments in Pakistan’s efforts to de-escalate the eight-month-old Iran conflict. Munir visited Iran most recently on Monday as part of a high-level delegation that also included Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin. Chaudhry, however, stressed that Pakistan remained “cautiously optimistic” as powerful spoilers and detractors continued to view conflict as serving their interests. He declined to disclose details of the discussions held in Tehran or comment on whether the United States had supported the diplomatic mission. Responding to a question about the possibility of Iran joining the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, the ISPR chief said the pact did not prevent new members from joining and welcomed any country sharing the vision of collective deterrence and regional peace. He added that the decision would rest with the political leadership of the three founding countries. Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye signed the joint defence agreement on August 7, under which an attack on any signatory would be treated as an attack on all. The agreement has gained greater regional significance amid shifting alliances and growing concerns over the wider impact of the Iran-US confrontation. Chaudhry said any decision to deploy additional Pakistani troops to Saudi Arabia would depend on the prevailing situation and the decisions of the political leadership of both countries. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the defence of Saudi Arabia and the holy cities of Makkah and Madina, while clarifying that Pakistan was not involved in the internal conflict in Yemen. Fighting between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthi group has intensified amid the wider regional crisis, raising fears of further escalation across the Middle East.