Pepe Escobar:Pakistan Navy Warns Off US Black Hawks;Iran Locks 400 Targets,POROUS BORDER,OPEN ROUTES

Summary

The program focused on reported Pakistan–Iran border closures, alleged U.S. military activity near Pakistan’s coast, and escalating regional tensions. The presenters emphasized that several claims came from their own sources and had not been independently verified.

Pakistan–Iran border and trade

Zulfiqar Ali said two major crossings had been temporarily closed after Pakistani and Iranian forces arrested people suspected of sabotage and intelligence-gathering. He described the detainees as mostly Afghans, allegedly financed by the UAE, with some Baloch suspects also in custody.

Ali said many traditional routes remained open, trade had continued, and the ports of Gwadar and Pasni were operating. According to his sources, Chinese cargo could still transit Pakistan into Iran, and a previously existing rail link had been reactivated and upgraded.

Reasons for the closures and sanctions

Pepe Escobar questioned whether the closures had been jointly agreed and whether U.S. pressure had influenced Pakistan, given recent talks about expanding dollar-bypassing trade between Iran and Pakistan.

Ali’s account varied during the discussion. In his opening update, he said a high-level source had told him that U.S. pressure played a role and that the temporary closure was coordinated with Iran. Later, he said other contacts denied U.S. pressure and attributed the move to security concerns. He maintained that the broader trade relationship was not being shut down.

Escobar raised a claim that secondary sanctions had stalled paperwork and left thousands of Iranian trucks unable to cross. Ali did not confirm the figure, instead stressing that trade routes and Chinese transit remained active.

Reported helicopter encounter

Ali said Pakistani sources reported that U.S. Black Hawk helicopters had approached to within about three nautical miles of Karachi’s coast. He said Pakistani aircraft warned them away and that they complied. He also reported that U.S. naval vessels were nearby but outside Pakistan’s territorial waters. These claims were presented as sourced reports, not independently established facts.

Regional diplomacy

Escobar discussed Egypt’s pledge of possible support for Saudi Arabia, pending parliamentary authorization, and a debate at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation over a proposed resolution condemning Yemen’s Ansar Allah movement. He said Iran wanted any statement to address the causes of the renewed Saudi–Yemen conflict rather than condemn one side alone.

The presenters differed on whether Iran had formally expressed interest in joining the Mecca defence agreement. Escobar said there had been no official discussion in Tehran, while Ali said sources in Iran and Pakistan had indicated interest, with Pakistan and Turkey encouraging the idea. Both suggested that any move was not imminent.

Iranian warning

Ali said sources told him Iran had “locked” 400 targets, including many in Israel, and warned that a renewed U.S. attack could prompt a particularly forceful Iranian response using weapons not previously deployed. The presenters did not independently substantiate the target list or weapons claims.

Ali described the program as reporting based on multiple high-level sources and promised further updates. The discussion closed with Escobar previewing coverage later in the week.

Presenters and contributors: Zulfiqar Ali and Pepe Escobar.