Pakistan recognized for constructive diplomatic engagement in US-Iran ceasefire efforts: FO

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has been recognized for its constructive diplomatic engagement in supporting de-escalation and ceasefire efforts and facilitating dialogue between the United States and Iran.

Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said this during a weekly briefing on Thursday.  

Regarding the ongoing peace process, Andrabi said, “Pakistan has been recognized for its constructive diplomatic engagement in supporting de-escalation, ceasefire efforts, and a broader pursuit of stability between the United States and Iran.”

“Throughout sustained interaction with both Washington and Tehran, Islamabad has sought to encourage dialogue, facilitate the exchange of messages and help create conditions and space for conducive and meaningful negotiations.” 

Facilitative and mediatory role

Ambassador Andrabi said, “The approach that Pakistan has undertaken underscores consistent commitment to regional stability and international peace, reflecting our preferences for principled dialogue-oriented diplomacy for addressing complex geopolitical challenges and managing complicated disputes and conflicts.”

“In this context, under the leadership of Prime Minister Mohammad Shehbaz Sharif, and with active engagement of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, and Chief of the Defense Forces and Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Pakistan has maintained open channels of communication with the concerned parties as part of our facilitative and mediatory role.”

Constructive and stabilizing contributions

He said, “As part of these ongoing efforts, the Prime Minister is currently undertaking visits to key regional countries, while the Chief of Defense Forces and the Chief of Army Staff arrived in Tehran yesterday.” 

“Collectively, these initiatives, these pursuits, reflect our sustained efforts for peace and our commitment that these efforts are best advanced through dialogue and cooperation.”

“And this has been a fact which has been acknowledged in diplomatic circles around the world, Pakistan's constructive and stabilizing contributions,” he added. 

Intense diplomatic exchanges

But before embarking on this visit, the prime minister engaged in intensive diplomatic exchanges with his counterparts around the world.

This was at the start, before the Islamabad peace talks, and the exchanges continued afterward. 

Peace talks 

Regarding the Islamabad Talks, Andrabi said, “The talks continued for 21 hours, that is the duration of actual negotiation.”

“Overall, the process continued for well above 30 hours, if you count the movement of the delegations and the momentary breaks for meals and coffees and so on.” 

Ambassador Andrabi said, “The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, along with the Chief of Defense Forces and the Chief of Army Staff, helped mediate several rounds of intense and constructive negotiations.”

“You would recall that in his remarks at the conclusion of these talks, the Deputy Prime Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, had expressed hope that the two sides would continue with the positive spirit to achieve durable peace and prosperity in the entire region and beyond.” 

“It is imperative that the parties continue to uphold their commitment to the ceasefire." 

Facilitating engagement and dialogue 

The DPM has also reiterated that Pakistan has been, and will continue to, play its role in facilitating engagement and dialogue between the two countries in the days to come.

"And indeed, these words of the Deputy Prime Minister are being upheld now that our Chief of Defense Forces was in Iran yesterday, arrived in Iran yesterday, and our prime minister has embarked on a three-country visit," Ambassador Andrabi said. 

"Let me reiterate that the visit to Saudi Arabia and Qatar has, of course, a very strong bilateral component." 

The prime minister's visit to the three countries will take place from April 15 to 18.

The visit to Saudi Arabia and Qatar is in the bilateral context, he said. 

Anatolia Diplomacy Forum

The visit to Turkiye is in the context of the Anatolia Diplomacy Forum, where the prime minister will participate in a high-level panel discussion alongside world leaders and present Pakistan's perspective, the ambassador said.

Last evening, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called on Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, he added. 

The prime minister expressed full solidarity and support for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the wake of recent regional escalations, and he appreciated Saudi Arabia's exemplary restraint demonstrated throughout the conflict, and indeed, exemplary patience. 

The prime minister shared with His Royal Highness the recent developments related to Pakistan's peace efforts that led to the US-Iran ceasefire and the recently held Islamabad talks between the US and Iran, Ambassador Andrabi said.

The Crown Prince appreciated Pakistan's constructive role in the peace process.

Pakistan-Saudi ties

The prime minister expressed his sincere appreciation to the Crown Prince for the Kingdom's consistent support for Pakistan's economic stability.

Both countries enjoy a unique relationship; we have a strong strategic defense partnership under the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement.

Apart from the prime minister's engagement, the deputy prime minister also remained busy throughout the last two weeks, holding numerous telephone conversations and direct interactions with his counterparts, the FO spokesperson said in his briefing.