ISLAMABAD:
Just two days after hosting foreign ministers from Türkiye, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is heading to Beijing in a move that officials say underscores Islamabad’s intensifying diplomatic effort to defuse the Middle East crisis.
According to a Foreign Ministry statement issued on Monday, Dar will visit China on March 31 at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
The statement described Pakistan and China as “all-weather strategic cooperative partners” and said the visit would allow both sides to hold “in-depth discussions on regional developments as well as bilateral and global issues of mutual interest.”
The Foreign Ministry also highlighted the urgency of the trip, noting that Dar is making the visit despite medical advice to rest after a small fracture in his shoulder, reflecting the importance Islamabad places on ties with Beijing.
Diplomatic sources told The Express PAkGazette that the visit is significant in the context of Pakistan’s broader mediation efforts, particularly its attempt to bring China more directly into peace diplomacy.
They said Islamabad wants Beijing to use its influence over Tehran to help reduce tensions and push Iran toward negotiations.
“China has the ability to push Tehran to the negotiating table,” one source said, adding that Beijing could also play a broader role in shaping any eventual deal between the warring parties.
Beijing has already expressed its support for Pakistan’s efforts. In a statement, China’s Foreign Ministry said it “commends and supports Pakistan’s mediation efforts to reduce tension” and is willing to enhance coordination with Islamabad and other stakeholders to work for a ceasefire and peace.
Dar’s approach comes amid reports that talks between Iran and the United States could take place this week in Islamabad.
The Foreign Minister, speaking on Sunday after the Quad meeting, said Pakistan was preparing for an important meeting and that both Iran and the United States had expressed confidence in Islamabad’s efforts.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach continued on another front as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a telephone conversation with António Costa, president of the European Council, one of the three most important leadership positions in the European Union (EU).
In a post on X, the prime minister said both sides exchanged views on ongoing hostilities in the Middle East and agreed that “dialogue and diplomacy must prevail” to restore peace and stability. He briefed Costa on Pakistan’s mediation efforts, which the European side welcomed.
The two leaders also discussed strengthening ties between Pakistan and the EU, including the importance of the GSP Plus scheme and the upcoming Pakistan-EU Business Forum in Islamabad at the end of next month.
The Prime Minister also conveyed his good wishes to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. In his own statement, Costa said the EU was “gravely concerned” about the prolongation of the war and its growing global impact.
He expressed support for Pakistan’s peace efforts and stressed that “only dialogue and diplomacy can restore peace and stability to the Middle East”, in line with the UN Charter and international law.
The flurry of diplomatic activity reflects Islamabad’s attempt to position itself at the center of mediation efforts, leveraging ties with key regional and global players to push for a negotiated end to the conflict.
