ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar led the country's delegation at the 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Ministerial Meeting in Manila, where he highlighted political and security challenges facing the Middle East, the Asia-Pacific and the wider world, stressing that lasting peace and stability could only be achieved through dialogue and diplomacy.
According to a statement by the Foreign Office, FM Dar told the plenary session that Pakistan had played a proactive role as a mediator and facilitator during the Iran-US conflict, briefing participants on its global implications.
This week, Pakistan’s FM Dar on Tuesday departed to participate in the 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Ministerial Meeting.
Dar said that lasting peace in South Asia remained contingent upon the just resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions, while expressing concern over India's unilateral step of holding the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, according to the statement.
He warned that such actions undermine bilateral agreements, heighten regional tensions and have serious implications for peace, stability and livelihoods across the region.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Dar held bilateral meetings with New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, and European Commission Vice-President and High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas.
According to the Foreign Office, leaders from ARF countries appreciated Pakistan's “constructive and proactive role” in defusing tensions during the Iran-US conflict and emphasized the importance of maintaining maximum restraint and institutional dialogue to secure sustainable global peace.
Dar also discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation in education, health, economy, science, trade and investment.
During his visit to Manila, Dar also met Asian Development Bank Vice President Yingming Yang, Vice President Fatima Yasmin and other senior officials to discuss infrastructure, climate resilience, regional connectivity and sustainable economic growth, including the Main Line-1 railway project.
