Pakistan actively pressing for dialogue to ease Middle East tensions: Dar

ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Tuesday that Pakistan has pressed both public and behind-the-scenes diplomatic efforts to calm tensions following a sudden United States-Israel attack on Iran. Pakistan is seeking a role in brokering dialogue between the countries.

Speaking in the Senate, Dar said Islamabad responded quickly to the crisis earlier this year. Pakistan issued its first public reaction on February 28 and later conveyed condolences after the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the Israeli strikes.

He added that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had issued a statement mourning Khamenei’s loss, as Pakistan worked to stabilize the situation through “active engagement and diplomacy.”

Dar told lawmakers that Pakistan had used both official channels and back-door diplomacy to urge restraint and de-escalation following the recent hostilities. Tehran had launched missiles and drones at US interests and bases across the Gulf in retaliation for the attacks.

He said Islamabad had been in contact with several countries over the past three days to encourage talks, noting that dialogue is the only viable way to reduce tensions. “Iran is our neighbouring and brotherly country; we have been extremely active both publicly and privately,” Dar said, adding that the Iranian leadership was aware of and appreciative of Pakistan’s efforts.

In his briefing, Dar also said that Tehran had agreed not to pursue nuclear weapons, a stance he conveyed to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio during talks that Pakistan hopes to help facilitate. He stressed that Islamabad supports Iran’s right to a peaceful nuclear programme under international law and is prepared to host mediation between Washington and Tehran.

The comments come as other countries also push for diplomatic solutions. Mediated by Oman, recent indirect talks between the United States and Iran in Geneva showed “significant progress” but stopped short of a deal. Negotiations are set to resume in Vienna next week.

The conflict has added strain to an already volatile region. Global powers and international organizations have warned that escalation could have far-reaching consequences. Russia’s foreign minister said Moscow has seen no evidence that Iran was developing nuclear weapons, challenging Washington’s justification for military action and urging an immediate cessation of hostilities to prevent further civilian casualties.

Pakistan’s push for diplomacy comes amid broader international efforts to prevent the Middle East crisis from spiraling into a wider war and to salvage stalled nuclear negotiations with Tehran.