Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi attend the consultative ministerial meeting in Riyadh. Photo: AFP
ISLAMABAD:
When Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar arrived in Riyadh for a crucial ministerial meeting of key Arab and Muslim countries on Wednesday, Pakistan’s main objective was to boost dialogue and de-escalation in an increasingly volatile regional crisis.
However, even before the meeting of foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Pakistan, Qatar, Syria, Turkiye and the United Arab Emirates could formally begin, the situation took a dramatic turn.
Fresh Israeli attacks targeted Iran’s energy infrastructure, prompting a fierce response from Tehran that spread across the Gulf, hitting critical facilities and raising fears of a broader regional war.
The escalation left Arab foreign ministers in an uncompromising mood. “Pakistan’s work was disrupted even before the meeting began,” a senior diplomat told The Express PAkGazette, describing the atmosphere as tense and emotionally charged.
According to diplomatic sources, several Arab states were unwilling to accept calls for restraint or diplomacy with Iran, and instead pushed for strong and unequivocal condemnation of Tehran in the joint statement.
Pakistan, which has been trying to position itself as a bridge between Iran and the Gulf countries, found itself undergoing one of its most delicate diplomatic challenges in recent years.
Sources said Islamabad engaged in intense behind-the-scenes diplomacy to calm tempers and soften the language of the joint statement. As discussions began on the draft declaration, Gulf countries sought a strong message holding Iran responsible for the escalation, while Pakistan pushed for a more balanced approach.
“We convinced our Arab friends to water down the statement to some extent,” another diplomat said, adding that Islamabad also sought explicit references to Israel and the broader causes of instability in the Middle East.
The final joint statement, issued after the consultative meeting in Riyadh, strongly condemned Iran’s missile and drone attacks against multiple countries, including the Gulf States, calling them unjustifiable under any circumstances.
He called on Tehran to immediately stop hostilities, respect international law and refrain from actions that threaten regional security, including sea routes.
At the same time, the statement also included a condemnation of Israel’s actions in Lebanon, particularly its “expansionist policies”, reflecting a key demand of Pakistan during the negotiations.
Despite this partial success, officials acknowledged that Pakistan had to walk a “tense diplomatic rope” to maintain relations with both Iran and its key Gulf allies.
Furthermore, in an official statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, Pakistan stressed the need to address the root causes of the crisis.
The statement noted that while Islamabad supported the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all regional states and condemned attacks on civil and energy infrastructure, lasting peace could not be achieved without addressing the underlying drivers of the conflict.
In this context, Pakistan “condemned in the strongest possible terms Israel’s continued aggression and provocations”, linking broader regional instability with long-standing disputes and policies.
During the meeting, Dar reiterated Pakistan’s call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and emphasized that diplomacy is the only viable way forward. He also warned against actions that could jeopardize regional energy security and worsen global economic challenges.
The Foreign Ministry said Pakistan would continue its diplomatic outreach and maintain a “constructive role” in efforts aimed at reducing tension.
However, diplomatic sources warned that with positions hardening and mistrust deepening, the space for mediation was rapidly shrinking, making Pakistan’s balancing act in an already volatile region increasingly difficult.
Meanwhile, Dar, underlining the importance of preserving the unity of the Muslim Ummah, called for a quick end to the ongoing conflict and reiterated Pakistan’s call for dialogue and diplomacy.
Addressing the ministerial meeting of Arab and Islamic countries, he expressed full support for the territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence of all brotherly regional states, and emphasized the need to end all attacks on their territories.
The deputy prime minister stressed the importance of addressing the root causes of the crisis and, in this regard, condemned in the strongest possible terms Israel’s continued aggression and provocations against the countries of the region.
He also condemned attacks against civilians, as well as energy and critical infrastructure, and called for an end to such actions.
Dar urged all parties to refrain from actions that could undermine regional energy security and exacerbate global economic challenges.
He briefed the participants about Pakistan’s ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis and reaffirmed Islamabad’s desire to continue playing a constructive role in addressing regional security challenges.
During the visit, Dar conveyed a message of strong solidarity and unwavering support to Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud on behalf of the government and people of Pakistan.
He also attended a quadrilateral meeting of the foreign ministers of Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, held on the sidelines of the summit.
