Venezuelan Foreign Minister recognizes Pakistan’s constructive role in promoting dialogue and reducing tensions between the US and Iran
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ishaq Dar (L), Minister of Foreign Affairs of Venezuela, Félix Plasencia (R).
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Sunday conveyed his condolences to Venezuela over the recent devastating earthquakes and reaffirmed Islamabad’s “unwavering solidarity” with the Venezuelan government and its people during a telephone conversation with Venezuela’s newly appointed Foreign Minister Félix Plasencia.
On June 24, Venezuela was rocked by two powerful earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5, which occurred just 39 seconds apart in the western state of Yaracuy. So far, the disaster has claimed at least 5,069 lives and left 16,740 injured, according to the president of the National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez.
According to a publication in X by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (FO), Dar congratulated Plasencia on his appointment before expressing Pakistan’s “sincere condolences” for the earthquakes that devastated Venezuela.
He reaffirmed Pakistan’s “unwavering solidarity with the Government and people of Venezuela during this difficult time” and expressed confidence in the country’s “resilience and recovery.”
The Deputy Prime Minister/Minister of Foreign Affairs, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50, received a call from the newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, HE Félix Plasencia.
DPM/FM extended its warm congratulations to… pic.twitter.com/aPyK1Y6wTn
– Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) July 19, 2026
Plasencia thanked Dar for Pakistan’s message of sympathy and solidarity and expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s support and humanitarian solidarity with victims of natural disasters, underlining “the importance of mutual support in times of need.”
Read: The death toll from the earthquakes in Venezuela rises to 5,069
The Venezuelan foreign minister also acknowledged Pakistan’s “constructive role in promoting dialogue and reducing tensions” in the regional situation involving the United States and Iran and praised Islamabad’s commitment to “peace and diplomacy.”
The two ministers exchanged views on the “long-standing friendly relations” between Pakistan and Venezuela and reaffirmed their “shared commitment to further strengthen bilateral relations.” They also discussed opportunities to expand cooperation in “trade, investment, business, agriculture, IT and other areas of mutual interest.”
Both sides underlined the “considerable potential to enhance economic collaboration” and foster “stronger people-to-people contacts for the mutual benefit of the two countries.”
Dar emphasized the importance of “sustained high-level engagement” to “revitalize bilateral relations and further deepen cooperation.” The two ministers also appreciated the “continued and close coordination” between Pakistan and Venezuela in multilateral forums on “issues of common interest.”
They agreed to “remain in close contact” and “meet as soon as possible” to advance the bilateral agenda.
According to the United States Geological Survey, the strongest magnitude 7.5 earthquake occurred about 23 kilometers southeast of Yumare, while the magnitude 7.2 tremor occurred approximately 24 kilometers northeast of San Felipe.
The two earthquakes caused widespread devastation, followed by 890 aftershocks that further hampered rescue and recovery efforts.
More than 128,000 families have received government assistance, but thousands remain displaced. Authorities have established 106 temporary camps housing more than 21,000 people, while almost 18,000 people remain without permanent housing.
The earthquakes also left extensive damage to infrastructure. Rodriguez said 856 buildings were damaged, including 190 that collapsed, leaving entire communities struggling to rebuild.
President Nicolás Maduro said Venezuela needs access to financial resources frozen abroad to support reconstruction, as well as financing for employment and education programs. Venezuela has faced extensive sanctions from the United States, the European Union and other countries over the past two decades, measures that Caracas says have complicated its recovery efforts.
After the earthquakes, the United States authorized, for four months, transactions related to earthquake relief that would have been prohibited by sanctions.
