FM Dar stresses need to promote peace, stability in region in meeting with US envoy

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Monday stressed the need to promote peace and stability in the region during a meeting with United States Acting Chargé d’Affaires Zachary Harkenrider as the conflict in the Middle East drags on.

Since the start of the war between the US, Israel, and Iran, Pakistan’s leadership has stepped up diplomatic efforts to help de-escalate tensions. Last week, Dar held telephonic conversations with his counterparts from several Gulf states and other countries, stressing the importance of de-escalation and emphasising the need to pursue dialogue and diplomacy in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter.

The Foreign Office said that FM Dar held a meeting with Harkenrider focused on bilateral relations as well as ongoing regional developments. The two sides discussed the broader regional situation and issues of mutual interest, the ministry said in a statement.

“FM emphasised the importance of diplomatic engagement and underscored the urgent need to promote peace and stability in the region,” the statement said.

Later, Dar spoke with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and exchanged views on the latest developments in the regional situation and its broader implications.

According to the MOFA, "Dar emphasised the importance of diplomatic engagement, dialogue, and sustained efforts to promote peace, stability and security in the region."

Tensions in the Middle East escalated sharply after US and Israeli air strikes last month assassinated Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several senior officials, triggering a wave of retaliation from Tehran and widening the conflict across the region. In response to the strikes, Iran launched retaliatory attacks on US military bases in several Gulf countries, significantly expanding the scope of the confrontation.

Read More: Pakistan making full diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions in Middle East

The killing of Khamenei has opened a new chapter of escalation and instability in the Middle East. To reduce tensions. Earlier this month, FM Dar, in a briefing to ambassadors from several countries, said that Pakistan was closely monitoring the regional situation and working to reduce tensions through diplomatic efforts.

He added that Pakistan was closely monitoring developments in Iran, with all efforts focused on easing tensions, calling the situation “extremely delicate”.

Prime Minister's Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah also said that Pakistan was acting as a mediator between Saudi Arabia and Iran to defuse tensions.