Pakistan and China have reiterated their strong support for dialogue and diplomacy as essential tools to achieve lasting peace in the Middle East and West Asia. This reaffirmation came during a meeting between Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong in Islamabad on Wednesday.
During their discussions, the two officials reviewed recent regional developments and ongoing diplomatic initiatives. Ishaq Dar emphasized Pakistan’s unwavering dedication to promoting dialogue as the primary approach to resolving conflicts and fostering stability across the region.
Ambassador Jiang expressed China’s appreciation for Pakistan’s constructive contributions toward enhancing peace and security in the Middle East and the Gulf area. Both sides conveyed optimism that the current diplomatic efforts would result in durable peace and stability, benefiting all stakeholders involved.
Pakistan has played an active role in facilitating diplomatic engagements amid recent tensions in the Middle East, including bridging communications between key regional and global actors.
In a related development, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held an extensive and cordial telephone conversation lasting over 45 minutes with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Their discussion focused on the ceasefire, upcoming negotiations, and broader regional issues.
Prime Minister Sharif congratulated the Iranian leadership for their agreement to a ceasefire, commending their wisdom and foresight in choosing de-escalation. He also expressed respect for Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei and reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for initiatives aimed at securing lasting peace.
Significantly, Sharif formally offered to host negotiations between Iran and the United States in Islamabad this week, an offer that Iran accepted. President Pezeshkian expressed gratitude to Sharif and praised Pakistan’s leadership role in facilitating the temporary ceasefire between Iran and the United States.
The Iranian president extended his best wishes to the people of Pakistan and confirmed Iran’s participation in the forthcoming talks in Islamabad. He welcomed the efforts to pursue dialogue for sustainable peace and expressed hope that the negotiations would yield positive outcomes.
Both leaders agreed to maintain close communication as the diplomatic process progresses. This call took place amid ongoing attempts to stabilize the region following the ceasefire agreement between Iran and the United States, with Islamabad emerging as a critical venue for talks aimed at achieving a broader settlement.
