Pakistan, June 14 -- In global politics, military action often seems a grim necessity; yet, this logic rarely accounts for the true costs. Operation Rising Lion, the latest Middle East escalation between Israel and Iran, pushes the region toward an unthinkable precipice. Reports indicate over 70 dead, including civilians, from unprecedented strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities in Natanz and Tabriz, and key military sites. These costs fall on civilians, destabilising our energy markets, complicating diplomacy, and threatening borders. For Pakistan, this is an unfolding catastrophe in our backyard.

The idea that security comes from endless preemption is a dangerous fantasy. Aggressive actions slam doors on dialogue. Provocations highlight ...