Ishaq Dar Urges Diplomacy as Regional Tensions Continue
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has urged all parties to de-escalate tensions under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), emphasizing that dialogue and diplomacy remain the only practical path to resolving regional disputes.
According to the Foreign Office, Dar discussed the evolving regional situation with Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Saeed Ahmed Al-Malki during a meeting in Islamabad. Both sides reviewed developments affecting regional peace and stability and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening Pakistan-Saudi Arabia relations.
Dar stressed the importance of promoting diplomatic engagement and peaceful dialogue to prevent further escalation. The two countries agreed to continue close cooperation on issues of mutual interest while supporting efforts aimed at maintaining stability in the region.
Earlier, Dar also spoke by telephone with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, where he called on all sides to exercise restraint and honor the principles outlined in the Islamabad MoU. He reiterated that negotiations and diplomacy offer the best chance for resolving ongoing conflicts.
Meanwhile, the regional security situation has continued to deteriorate. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that nearly 140 Iranian military targets were struck during the third phase of operations this week, saying the attacks were launched in response to another incident involving a commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz.
According to CENTCOM, the strikes involved fighter aircraft, drones, and naval assets, bringing the total number of Iranian targets hit this week to more than 300. The operations were aimed at reducing Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping.
In response, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared that the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed during ongoing US intervention and warned that any unauthorized vessel attempting to pass through the strategic waterway would face a strong response.
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