- DPM Dar says Pakistan is acting cautiously in the mediation role.
- Prime Minister, CDF remains engaged in diplomatic efforts: Dar.
- Prolonged conflict may affect oil, economy: DPM.
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Tuesday accused Israel of trying to derail Islamabad’s efforts to facilitate cease-fire talks between the United States and Iran by launching an attack on Tehran at a time when both sides were preparing to engage.
“A major Israeli attack on Iran and the subsequent attack on Jubail in Saudi Arabia had made the situation more dangerous and sensitive,” he said while briefing the Senate on the current regional situation in the Middle East and Islamabad’s mediation efforts.
Pakistan emerged as a key mediator in one of the region’s worst conflicts, which erupted after the joint US-Israeli attack on Iran on 28 February.
The war has since resulted in a sharp rise in global fuel and energy costs, triggered by Tehran’s effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking in the House of Lords on the current situation in the Middle East, DPM Dar, who also holds the portfolio of Foreign Minister, thanked Leader of the Opposition Senator Raja Nasir Abbas for acknowledging the government’s efforts and said that Pakistan had remained actively engaged right from the beginning of the crisis.
He said that when the first attack on Iran took place, he was in Madina after attending an OIC meeting and immediately contacted the Foreign Ministry and asked it to issue a strong condemnation of the Israeli attack on a sovereign country.
FM Dar said he also established immediate contact with the Iranian Foreign Minister and conveyed Pakistan’s support and sympathy and assured him that Islamabad would make efforts to rally regional countries behind de-escalation.
He said Pakistan had since been in continuous contact with countries in the region and beyond, including China, Japan, Britain, Canada and several European states, in an effort to promote restraint and prevent escalation.
The DPM said Pakistan had been working as a facilitator and mediator and had to proceed with caution so as not to undermine sensitive diplomatic efforts.
He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and the Ministry of External Affairs remained fully engaged in the diplomatic process.
DPM Dar said Saudi Arabia hosted a meeting of 12 countries on March 19 in Riyadh on the issue, where Pakistan represented its position and helped secure a balanced joint statement, including condemning Israel.
He said a four-country group comprising Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkiye and Pakistan had also been working for peace and its follow-up meeting, originally scheduled for Istanbul, was later moved to Islamabad.
FM Dar further informed the Senate that the foreign ministers of the three countries visited Pakistan on March 29, where bilateral meetings as well as a quadrilateral meeting were held as part of efforts to promote peace diplomacy.
He went on to say that Pakistan had also engaged China at a high level and during his visit there on March 31, the two sides discussed a five-point peace initiative for the region, which was later announced.
Dar said the UN Secretary General had also called him to appreciate Pakistan’s role and offered support to its peace efforts.
He said that until the last moment, Pakistan had tried to create space for a pause and meaningful engagement between the parties, but regretted that the new development had again complicated the situation.
He warned that prolonged conflict in the region could have serious consequences for the wider world as well as Pakistan, including for oil prices and the economy.
The Deputy Prime Minister expressed hope that diplomatic efforts will ultimately help restore peace in the region and lead to a dignified resolution of the conflict.
