Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (L) and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar (R). Photo: Files
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan has stepped up diplomatic outreach amid the rapidly evolving crisis in Iran and the wider Gulf region, engaging regional capitals while urging restraint and warning against actions that could further widen the conflict, officials and diplomatic sources said on Friday.
Speaking with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi on Friday evening, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar expressed concern over the deteriorating regional situation and stressed the importance of maintaining communication as tensions escalate.
According to the State Department, both sides agreed to remain in close contact on developments.
Diplomatic sources said Islamabad has also conveyed its concerns to Tehran, urging the Iranian leadership to avoid attacks against the Gulf states, warning that such actions could dangerously widen the conflict and destabilize an already volatile region.
This was the second phone call between Dar and Araghchi since the Iran-US-Israel spat last week.
Dar earlier revealed that he reminded his Iranian counterpart about Pakistan’s mutual defense pact with Saudi Arabia. Dar went on to claim that because of Pakistan’s shuttle diplomacy, Iran avoided attacking Saudi Arabia.
Pakistan’s diplomatic push comes amid reports of attacks targeting several regional states, including Azerbaijan and Turkey, which have sparked fresh tensions in the Middle East and Caucasus region.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a telephone conversation with Ilham Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan, in which he strongly condemned the drone strikes on the Nakhchivan exclave, which were allegedly targeting civilians.
The prime minister assured the Azerbaijani leadership that Pakistan stood in “full solidarity and support with the brotherly people of Azerbaijan” during the difficult time. He also briefed President Aliyev on Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach after the crisis unfolding in Iran and the Gulf region.
President Aliyev thanked the Pakistani Prime Minister for the call and appreciated Islamabad’s expression of solidarity. Both leaders stressed the need for de-escalation and restoration of peace in the region and agreed to remain in close contact.
In a separate statement, the Foreign Ministry expressed “serious concern” over attacks targeting Turkey and Azerbaijan, warning that such actions were a violation of international law and could push the region toward further escalation.
“While affirming Pakistan’s strong solidarity with Turkey and Azerbaijan, we call for restraint and the use of dialogue and diplomacy to maintain regional peace and stability,” the statement said.
However, Iran has denied claims that it carried out attacks against Azerbaijan and Turkey. Iranian officials have called the accusations a “false flag operation” orchestrated by Israel to widen the conflict and draw more regional actors into the confrontation.
Diplomatic observers say Pakistan’s outreach reflects a careful balancing act as Islamabad seeks to maintain ties with multiple regional players while preventing the crisis from spiraling into a wider regional war.
