ISLAMABAD:
European Council President Antonio Costa on Monday reaffirmed diplomatic support for Pakistan’s peace efforts in the Middle East to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, stating that only dialogue and diplomacy could bring peace to the region.
Tensions in the Middle East rose sharply after US and Israeli airstrikes last month killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several senior officials, triggering a wave of retaliation by Tehran and widening the conflict across the region.
In response to the attacks, Iran launched retaliatory strikes against US military bases in several Gulf countries, significantly expanding the scope of the confrontation.
Pakistan has since stepped up its diplomatic efforts to play its role in easing tensions and emerged as a key mediator between the United States and Iran in their ongoing conflict, which had spread across the Gulf region.
According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) today on X-Day, Costa and Prime Minister Shehbaz discussed the ongoing hostilities in the Middle East and exchanged views on relations between Pakistan and the EU.
“Both leaders expressed deep concern about the ongoing hostilities in Iran and the Gulf countries and their impact on the global economy. They stressed the need to resolve the crisis through dialogue and diplomacy,” the statement read.
The PMO further stated that the Prime Minister also shared the latest developments in Pakistan’s mediation efforts to de-escalate the Middle East crisis. Costa supported Pakistan’s peace efforts and reaffirmed that the EU supports all diplomatic initiatives aimed at restoring peace and stability in the region.
“Prime Minister Shehbaz highlighted the importance of GSP Plus and mentioned that he looked forward to inaugurating the first Pakistan-EU Business Forum in Islamabad on April 28-29,” the statement added.
According to the PMO, the Prime Minister recalled that his planned visit to Brussels had to be postponed last month and stressed that Pakistan attaches great importance to its relations with the EU.
“The President of the EU Council said he looked forward to receiving the Prime Minister in Brussels on mutually convenient dates,” the statement further noted.
The statement also mentions that Prime Minister Shehbaz conveyed his good wishes to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
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“The EU is seriously concerned about the prolongation of the war and its growing global impact. I wish Pakistan all the best in its peace efforts,” he added.
