A combination photo of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian. PHOTOS: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
As tensions continue to grip the Middle East following US-Israeli attacks on Iran, Pakistan is attempting a delicate diplomatic balancing act, engaging Tehran at the highest level while reiterating its long-standing strategic commitment to Saudi Arabia.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a telephone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday to discuss developments in the regional situation, underscoring Islamabad’s push for diplomacy amid fears of a wider conflict.
At the same time, the Prime Minister’s spokesperson told foreign media that Pakistan stood firmly with Saudi Arabia.
According to an official statement, in a phone call with the Iranian president, the prime minister expressed deep concern over rising tensions and stressed that dialogue and diplomatic engagement remain essential to ensure peace and stability in the region.
“Pakistan considers diplomatic efforts and dialogue essential to ensure peace, stability and de-escalation,” Shehbaz said during the call, urging all parties to exercise restraint and responsibility to prevent further deterioration of the situation.
The call comes at a time when the region is witnessing heightened volatility following the escalation between Iran and the US-Israeli alliance, raising concerns about wider geopolitical implications and potential disruptions to global energy supplies.
During the call, the prime minister also highlighted Pakistan’s long-standing ties with Iran and stressed that Islamabad attaches great importance to its “historical, religious and cultural ties” with Tehran and seeks to further strengthen bilateral cooperation.
He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to expanding engagement with Iran across multiple sectors and maintaining high-level contacts between the two countries.
President Pezeshkian, in turn, conveyed Iran’s desire to deepen relations with Pakistan and stressed the importance of working together to promote regional peace and stability. He also briefed the Pakistani Prime Minister on Iran’s position on recent regional developments.
“Tehran has no intention of going into conflict with the countries of the region,” state media said, quoting the Iranian president as saying.
Both leaders agreed to remain in close contact and continue consultations as the situation develops, while also exploring opportunities to expand cooperation between the neighboring countries.
The diplomatic outreach follows Shebaz’s letter earlier this week to Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, congratulating him on assuming leadership following the assassination of his father, Ali Khamenei.
While maintaining engagement with Tehran, Islamabad has also reaffirmed its deep strategic ties with Riyadh.
The prime minister’s foreign media spokesman Mosharraf Zaidi said Pakistan would stand firm with Saudi Arabia if required and underlined the depth of the bilateral relationship.
“The question is not whether Pakistan can come to the aid of Saudi Arabia,” Zaidi said in an interview with Bloomberg. “Both countries have long operated on the principle of being there for the other before they need the other.”
“So there’s no doubt we can; we will. No matter what, no matter when,” he added.
However, Zaidi stressed that Pakistan’s immediate focus was to prevent the situation from escalating further and ensure that key regional partners were not drawn into a wider conflict.
“The real question is what Pakistan is doing to ensure that things do not escalate to a point where any of its closest partners are further involved in a conflict,” he said.
He revealed that Pakistan has maintained contact with both Saudi and Iranian leaders amid the crisis and highlighted recent diplomatic engagements, including the visit of Pakistan’s army chief, Asim Munir, to Saudi Arabia.
Zaidi also praised the Gulf states for resisting external pressure to become directly involved in the conflict.
“There have been appeals from some quarters pushing the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council to become actively involved,” he said, adding that their reticence was something Pakistan supported.
At the same time, he acknowledged the strong economic and strategic partnership between Islamabad and Riyadh and noted that Saudi Arabia has already helped Pakistan stabilize its energy supply chain during the crisis.
According to Zaidi, disruptions to regional shipping routes could delay fuel shipments to Pakistan from the usual five to six days to nearly three weeks if alternative routes are used.
Saudi Arabia, he said, has agreed to ensure Pakistan’s access to oil, diesel and crude oil, underscoring the depth of cooperation between the two countries.
He also pointed to the government’s latest austerity measures aimed at dealing with the economic fallout of the regional crisis, including a four-day working week, extended arrangements for working from home and a significant reduction in the use of public vehicles.
“Every crisis is an opportunity for change,” Zaidi noted.
