ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s Defence Minister, Khawaja Asif, has ridiculed the U.S. military strategy in the Middle East, questioning the objective of "reopening" the Strait of Hormuz.

"The goal of the war seems to have shifted to opening the Strait of Hormuz, which was open before the war," Asif posted on X, highlighting that the current maritime paralysis was triggered by the conflict itself.

The Crisis in Numbers

Since the U.S.-Israeli campaign began, shipping through the world’s most critical oil artery has collapsed:

• 95% Drop: Daily transits have plummeted from an average of 120 vessels to just 6.
• Total Stagnation: Between March 1 and 25, only 155 crossings were recorded, compared to the thousands typically seen in peacetime.
• Economic Toll: The closure of the conduit for 20% of global oil has sparked worldwide fuel shortages and supply chain disruptions.

Diplomatic Deadlock

The war of words coincides with a stalemate in peace talks. Iran has dismissed a 15-point U.S. proposal that demanded a nuclear rollback and the reopening of the Strait. Instead, Tehran issued a counterproposal requiring war reparations and a halt to the targeting of its officials, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stating, "No negotiations have happened... and we do not plan on any."

As the death toll surpasses 2,600 across Iran and Lebanon, the strategic "opening" of the waterway remains the central, yet contested, focus of the escalating war.