Norway Praises Pakistan’s ‘Constructive Role’ in US-Iran Mediation

ISLAMABAD: Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide on Thursday praised Pakistan for taking on the “massive task” of mediating between the United States and Iran.

Speaking at a joint press conference in Islamabad, Eide said Pakistan was playing an important role in efforts to reduce tensions between Iran and the United States.

“I really want to commend Pakistan for the very important role it has taken in this very dramatic war that started on February 28 with the Israeli-US attack on Iran,” he said.

Eide acknowledged the difficulty of Pakistan’s mediation efforts and described them as a “massive task” that Islamabad had taken on.

“This peace mediation and facilitation, I know how hard it is. You are taking on a massive task that you offered during the Islamabad talks,” he said.

The Norwegian foreign minister specifically praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Field Marshal Asim Munir for their efforts.

“I think Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Field Marshal Asim Munir and Ishaq Dar are really doing a service to the world,” Eide said.

Norway Supports Freedom of Navigation

Eide also stressed Norway’s interest in keeping international sea routes open during the ongoing regional conflict.

“As a large shipping nation, it matters also to us because we share an interest in open sea lanes, in the ability to trade on the high seas and to respect the very important constitution of the oceans, which is the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea,” he said.

He said freedom of passage through international waterways was not only an issue for the countries involved in the conflict but was a matter of global importance.

“I want to send the message to anyone involved out in that conflict that this issue of free passage and an open strait is not an issue for the warring parties alone. It’s a global issue that we have a shared interest in promoting,” he said.

Eide also said Norway was among the Western countries that had been among the earliest and clearest in stating that the war was a violation of international law.

“Iran also has the right to be protected as a state,” he said.

Pakistan-Norway Relations

Eide arrived in Islamabad on Thursday for an official visit to Pakistan. It was the highest-level visit between Pakistan and Norway in a decade.

He held delegation-level talks with Ishaq Dar at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The two sides discussed cooperation in trade, investment, climate change, maritime affairs and education.

They also exchanged views on regional and international developments and agreed to further strengthen relations between Pakistan and Norway.

Eide and Dar also held a restricted-format meeting focused on bilateral relations and regional and international issues.