Venezuela’s FM acknowledges Pakistan’s constructive role in promoting dialogue and de-escalation between the US and Iran
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar (L), Venezuelan Foreign Minister Félix Plasencia (R).
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Sunday conveyed condolences to Venezuela over the recent devastating earthquakes and reaffirmed Islamabad’s “unwavering solidarity” with the Venezuelan government and its people during a telephone conversation with Venezuela’s newly appointed Foreign Minister Félix Plasencia.
On June 24, Venezuela was hit by two powerful earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, that struck just 39 seconds apart in the western state of Yaracuy. The disaster has so far claimed at least 5,069 lives and left 16,740 people injured, according to National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez.
According to a post on X by the Foreign Office (FO), Dar congratulated Plasencia on his appointment before expressing Pakistan’s “deepest condolences” over the earthquakes that hit Venezuela.
He reaffirmed Pakistan’s “unwavering solidarity with the government and people of Venezuela at this difficult time” and expressed confidence in the country’s “resilience and recovery.”
Deputy Prime Minister/Minister of Foreign Affairs Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 received a call from the newly appointed Minister of Foreign Relations and Foreign Trade of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, HE Félix Plasencia.
DPM/FM sent his warm congratulations to… pic.twitter.com/aPyK1Y6wTn
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) July 19, 2026
Plasencia thanked Dar for Pakistan’s message of sympathy and solidarity and expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s support and humanitarian solidarity with the victims of the natural disasters, stressing “the importance of mutual support in times of need.”
Read: Death toll from earthquake in Venezuela rises to 5,069
The Venezuelan foreign minister also acknowledged Pakistan’s “constructive role in promoting dialogue and de-escalation” in the regional situation involving the US and Iran and praised Islamabad’s commitment to “peace and diplomacy.”
The two ministers exchanged views on the “longstanding friendly relations” between Pakistan and Venezuela and reaffirmed their “shared commitment to further strengthen bilateral ties.” They also discussed opportunities to expand cooperation across “trade, investment, business, agriculture, IT and other areas of common interest.”
Both sides emphasized the “significant potential to strengthen economic cooperation” and promote “stronger people-to-people contacts for the mutual benefit of the two countries.”
Dar stressed the importance of “sustained high-level engagement” to “revive bilateral relations and further deepen cooperation.” The two ministers also appreciated the “continued close coordination” between Pakistan and Venezuela in multilateral forums on “issues of common interest.”
They agreed to “remain in close contact” and “meet at the earliest appropriate opportunity” to take forward the bilateral agenda.
According to the US Geological Survey, the stronger 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck about 23 kilometers southeast of Yumare, while the 7.2 tremor struck about 24 kilometers northeast of San Felipe.
The two earthquakes unleashed widespread destruction, followed by 890 aftershocks that further hampered rescue and recovery efforts.
More than 128,000 families have received government aid, but thousands remain displaced. Authorities have set up 106 temporary camps housing over 21,000 people, while nearly 18,000 people still lack permanent housing.
The earthquakes also left extensive damage to infrastructure. Rodriguez said 856 buildings were damaged, including 190 that collapsed, leaving entire communities struggling to rebuild.
President Nicolás Maduro said Venezuela needs access to financial resources frozen abroad to support reconstruction, as well as funding for employment and education programs. Venezuela has faced extensive sanctions from the United States, the European Union and other countries over the past two decades, measures that Caracas says have complicated its recovery efforts.
After the earthquakes, for four months the United States authorized transactions related to earthquake relief that would have been prohibited by sanctions.
