LAHORE, Tuesday, March 24, 2026 (WNP): Prime Minister’s Coordinator for the National Peace Message Committee and Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) Chairman, Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi on Tuesday said Pakistan played a decisive role in preventing a wider sectarian conflict in the Muslim world, stressing that unity, dialogue, and diplomacy remain essential for regional peace and stability.

Addressing a gathering at “Pakistan Stability Convention” here, Ashrafi said the evolving situation in the Muslim world demanded collective efforts to ensure the stability of Pakistan and unity of the Ummah.

He said Pakistan’s leadership, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chief of Army Staff Syed Asim Munir, and Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, had engaged extensively with regional and global stakeholders, including Iran, Arab countries, and international powers, to de-escalate tensions.

Ashrafi said attempts were made by hostile forces to provoke a sectarian divide between Iran and Arab countries, but Pakistan successfully conveyed to both sides the need to avoid confrontation and maintain unity.

“The enemy wanted to ignite a conflict between the Muslim world, but Pakistan played its role in averting this crisis,” he said.

He appreciated the response of both Iranian and Arab leaderships for trusting Pakistan’s position and supporting efforts for preventing escalation. He said propaganda campaigns, allegedly backed by hostile intelligence agencies, were also countered through national unity and responsible leadership.

Highlighting Pakistan’s internal cohesion, Ashrafi said scholars from all schools of thought including Sunni, Shia, Deobandi, Barelvi, and Ahl-e-Hadith stood united under the platform of the National Peace Message Committee, defeating attempts to incite sectarian violence within the country.

He warned that ongoing regional conflicts had diverted attention from key issues facing the Muslim world, particularly the situation in Palestine. He noted that access restrictions at Al-Aqsa Mosque and continued violence in the region remained a matter of serious concern for the Ummah.

Ashrafi reiterated that Pakistan sought peace and stability in the region and urged Afghanistan to ensure that its territory was not used for terrorist activities against Pakistan.

He emphasized that the entire nation stood behind Pakistan’s leadership in efforts to promote peace and unity in the Muslim world. “If Pakistan succeeds in contributing to peace, it will be a great honor for the country and a service to humanity,” he said.

The event was attended by prominent religious scholars, community leaders, and media representatives, who reaffirmed their commitment to national unity and inter-sect harmony.