ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday met a group of cross-party Pakistan-origin British parliamentarians in London, who praised Islamabad’s leadership and mediation efforts in the Middle East, according to the Foreign Office.

Pakistan has continued efforts to facilitate dialogue between the United States and Iran under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, working with regional partners including Qatar.

Tehran has publicly described Pakistan as a key intermediary, while Washington has also acknowledged Islamabad’s diplomatic role in efforts to advance a peaceful resolution.

The British lawmakers said Pakistan’s role had received international recognition and expressed support for strengthening Pakistan-UK ties, while Dar briefed them on Islamabad’s ongoing diplomatic efforts to promote de-escalation and peace in the region.

Dar stressed that adherence to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding by all parties was critical to achieving durable peace and stability in the Middle East, the Foreign Office said.

The foreign minister also highlighted the importance of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement in strengthening regional peace and stability, stressing that the agreement was “purely defensive in nature.”

The meeting came a day after Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir concluded a day-long visit to Tehran, accompanied by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.

Munir held talks with Iran’s president and senior officials on preventing further escalation, reopening the Strait of Hormuz and pursuing a negotiated settlement.

Naqvi later said the meeting with President Masoud Pezeshkian made “significant progress” toward restoring the Islamabad MoU and achieving a comprehensive settlement.

The lawmakers included Lord Zameer Choudrey, Lord Qurban Hussain, Baroness Shaista Sheehan and Lord Shaffaq Mohammed, as well as Members of Parliament Mohammad Yasin, Yasmin Qureshi, Afzal Khan, Zubir Ahmed and Adnan Hussain.

Dar appreciated the lawmakers’ role in strengthening Pakistan-UK ties and their advocacy for a just settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.

The British parliamentarians also congratulated Dar on the PML-N’s victory in the recent Azad Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly elections. Dar said the new government would prioritize investment in infrastructure and job creation for the region’s youth.

He said the federal and AJK governments would work with political parties and other stakeholders to build consensus on key governance and constitutional issues.

The lawmakers and Dar also exchanged views on other matters of mutual interest and reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening Pakistan-UK relations, according to the Foreign Office.

British lawmakers

British lawmakers praise Pakistan’s Middle East mediation efforts during FM Dar meeting