Foreign Minister to reaffirm support for regional sovereignty and urge dialogue as tensions rise between Iran and Israel
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar meets with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on the sidelines of the emergency session of the OIC CFMs in Jeddah on Palestine. PHOTO COURTESY: PTV
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will visit Riyadh on March 18 and 19 to attend a meeting of foreign ministers of regional countries, Pakistan’s foreign ministry said on Wednesday.
In a post on X, the Foreign Ministry said Dar would use the meeting to reiterate Pakistan’s diplomatic position amid rising tensions in the Middle East.
“During the meeting, the DPM/FM will express its full support for the territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence of all brotherly countries in the region and will call for an end to all attacks on their territory,” the statement said.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dar will reaffirm Pakistan’s call for an immediate end to the ongoing conflict and underline the need to resume dialogue and diplomacy. It is also expected to highlight Pakistan’s diplomatic initiatives and its commitment to play a constructive role in addressing the region’s growing security challenges.
The visit comes as the United States and Israel’s war against Iran intensifies, deepening instability across the Middle East. Iranian state television reported Wednesday that Iran attacked Tel Aviv with missiles carrying cluster warheads, describing the attack as retaliation for Israel’s assassination of Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani.
Earlier, on March 12, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif traveled to Riyadh for detailed talks on the regional situation with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
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Amid rising tensions following the US and Israeli attacks on Iran, Pakistan has reiterated its strong strategic commitment to Saudi Arabia while urging restraint to avoid a wider regional conflict.
The prime minister’s spokesperson for foreign media, Mosharraf Zaidi, earlier underlined the depth of ties between Islamabad and Riyadh and said Pakistan would support Saudi Arabia if necessary.
“The question is not whether Pakistan could come to Saudi Arabia’s aid… we will do it. No matter what, no matter when,” he said, adding that Pakistan’s immediate focus remains on avoiding further escalation and ensuring that regional partners are not drawn deeper into the conflict.
Iran has responded to the US and Israeli attacks with waves of drone and missile attacks not only against Israel but also against Gulf states hosting US military facilities, including Saudi Arabia, widening the regional impact of the conflict.
The escalation has affected key infrastructure in Gulf countries, including airports, ports, hotels, and military and oil facilities. Disruptions to oil and gas shipments through the Strait of Hormuz – a route that transports about a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas – have intensified economic concerns.
Airspace closures across the region have also forced airlines to cancel around 40,000 flights, marking the largest disruption to global air travel since the COVID-19 pandemic.
