Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. Photo: X/ File
ISLAMABAD:
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar told the Senate that a “major breakthrough” had been achieved in Iran-US talks a day earlier, but Israel launched a significant attack following the development.
Speaking in the upper house on Tuesday, Dar said that until last night there had been strong optimism that the Iran-US issue would soon be resolved. “The matter ultimately rests with Allah Almighty,” he said, adding that the prime minister and the military leadership were working non-stop. He stressed that Pakistan was not seeking any credit but was focused on ensuring peace in the region.
Briefing the house about Pakistan’s diplomatic role, Dar stated that Pakistan is the only Islamic country that condemns the attack on Iran. He said he personally contacted the Iranian foreign minister immediately after.
“Within three to four hours, Iran began retaliatory attacks on Arab countries, but our goal remains to de-escalate the situation and stop the war,” he said.
Senate Leader of the Opposition Allama Raja Nasir Abbas said war was being imposed on Iran and accused global leaders of pursuing their ambitions at the expense of Muslim lives. He warned that the conflict would further destabilize Pakistan and stressed the need for dialogue within the country’s leadership to navigate the crisis.
He criticized the international community, saying the UN Security Council had not yet called for an end to the war. He added that the region was increasingly sliding towards conflict and violence, arguing that the real issue behind the crisis was control of global resources.
Abbas called Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts commendable and warned that if the war continued, the government would struggle to control inflation and economic pressures.
He said the prime minister had previously offered talks with the opposition and called for talks to take place. He emphasized that key national decisions should be made through consultation between the government and the opposition.
Separately, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar told the Senate that the passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz would neither make it oil-free nor cheaper. Responding to remarks by JUI-F member Maulana Attaur Rehman, he said that global crude oil prices had risen significantly since February 28.
He said although arrangements had been made to ensure movement of vessels due to regional circumstances, this did not translate into cheaper fuel. “The availability of oil in the country today is due to the passage of these ships, but that does not mean that it can be supplied for free or at reduced prices,” he said.
Tarar said the government had shifted oil tax from diesel to petrol and noted that diesel prices were currently among the highest globally, but no tax was levied on it in Pakistan.
Defending the government’s austerity measures, he said the federal budget had been cut by 50%, cabinet members had given up official vehicles and fuel costs for government offices had also been halved.
