Dar to attend Riyadh talks as Pakistan pushes diplomacy amid Middle East crisis
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar holds a meeting with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on the sidelines of the OIC-CFMs’ emergency session in Jeddah on Palestine. PHOTO COURTESY: PTV
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will visit Riyadh on March 18–19 to attend a meeting of foreign ministers from regional countries, Pakistan’s Foreign Office said on Wednesday.
In a post on X, the Foreign Office said Dar would use the meeting to reiterate Pakistan’s diplomatic position amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
🔊PR No.7️⃣0️⃣/2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣
Curtain Raiser:Visit of Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister to Saudi Arabia to Attend Meeting on Regional Developments https://t.co/16kckQo6pg
🔗⬇️ pic.twitter.com/VRV2K9EjZQ"During the meeting, the DPM/FM will express complete support for the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and political independence of all brotherly countries in the region, and call for an end to all attacks on their territory," the statement said.
According to the Foreign Office, Dar will reaffirm Pakistan’s call for an immediate end to the ongoing conflict and stress the need to resume dialogue and diplomacy. He is also expected to highlight Pakistan’s diplomatic initiatives and its commitment to playing a constructive role in addressing the region’s growing security challenges.
The visit comes as the United States and Israel’s war against Iran intensifies, deepening instability across the Middle East. Iranian state television reported on Wednesday that Iran targeted Tel Aviv with missiles carrying cluster warheads, describing the attack as retaliation for Israel’s assassination of Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani.
Earlier, on March 12, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif travelled to Riyadh for detailed discussions on the regional situation with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Read: Govt intensifies efforts to assist nationals as Middle East crisis deepens
Amid rising tensions following US-Israeli strikes on Iran, Pakistan has reiterated its strong strategic commitment to Saudi Arabia while urging restraint to avoid a broader regional conflict.
Prime Minister’s spokesperson for foreign media Mosharraf Zaidi previously underscored the depth of ties between Islamabad and Riyadh, saying Pakistan would stand by Saudi Arabia if required.
“The question is not whether Pakistan might come to Saudi Arabia's aid… we will. No matter what, no matter when,” he said, adding that Pakistan’s immediate focus remains on preventing further escalation and ensuring regional partners are not drawn deeper into the conflict.
Iran has responded to the US-Israeli strikes with waves of drone and missile attacks not only toward Israel but also against Gulf states hosting US military installations, including Saudi Arabia, widening the conflict’s regional impact.
The escalation has struck key infrastructure across Gulf countries, including airports, ports, hotels, and oil and military facilities. Disruptions to oil and gas shipments through the Strait of Hormuz – a route carrying roughly one-fifth of the world’s petroleum and liquefied natural gas – have intensified economic concerns.
Airspace closures across the region have also forced airlines to cancel around 40,000 flights, marking the largest disruption to global air travel since the COVID-19 pandemic.