Pakistan facilitates repatriation of 30 Iranian nationals: FM Dar

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday said Pakistan facilitated the repatriation of 30 Iranian nationals, including eight fishermen rescued at sea by a British vessel and 22 crew members from a vessel recently interdicted by US authorities.

In a post on X, FM Dar said the group included eight Iranian fishermen rescued by the British vessel MMA Valour after their boat ran aground, and 22 Iranian crew members from the vessel Lenore/Davina.

He said both groups were expected to transit through Karachi in the coming days.

FM Dar said Pakistan remained in close coordination with the Iranian, US and UK authorities to ensure the safe transit and early return of the Iranian nationals to their homeland.

“Pakistan is pleased to facilitate the repatriation of 30 Iranian nationals,” Dar wrote on X.

He added that Pakistan remained committed to humanitarian cooperation and to extending “every possible assistance to our Iranian brothers”.

A day earlier, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar informed the National Assembly that DPM Dar had already contacted his Somali counterpart to discuss the issue, adding that the Foreign Office remained fully engaged and issued statements regarding the situation.

Read: Govt 'pursues' Somalia hostages release

Dar held a phone call last week with his Somalian counterpart Abdisalam Abdi Ali to convey Pakistan's "grave" concern over the situation and underscored the importance of ensuring the hostages' well-being, their early release, and safe repatriation.

Ali had assured Dar of Somalia's "continued and sincere efforts" to secure the hostages' release at the earliest opportunity.

Egyptian FM 

Separately on Wednesday, Dar held a telephone conversation with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a post on X.

According to the statement, the two sides exchanged views on recent understandings reached between the United States and Iran, as well as the upcoming Memorandum of Understanding in Bürgenstock, Switzerland, scheduled for Friday.

They also discussed preparations for the forthcoming Regional Four (R-4) Foreign Ministers’ meeting later this month.

Both ministers agreed to remain in close contact on matters of mutual interest and ongoing regional developments.