ISLAMABAD, Aug 6 (Alliance News): Pakistan on Thursday said that resolving the standoff in the Strait of Hormuz was essential to easing wider tensions in the Gulf and Middle East, reaffirming its support for all sincere diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting regional settlement.
Addressing the weekly media briefing, Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Pakistan remained actively engaged with brotherly countries to promote dialogue and de-escalation, adding that progress on the Strait of Hormuz would create a conducive environment for addressing broader regional issues, including renewed engagement between Iran and the United States.
He said Pakistan would continue to pursue diplomatic engagement and support all genuine initiatives to resolve the crisis, emphasizing that diplomacy remained the only viable path to sustainable peace and stability in the region.
The spokesperson appreciated Oman’s constructive role in promoting regional peace, describing the Gulf state as a key contributor to de-escalation efforts.
Responding to a question, Andrabi said the ongoing standoff in the Strait of Hormuz had complicated efforts to resolve the wider Middle East crisis involving Iran and the United States.
He expressed hope that progress on the Strait of Hormuz would facilitate renewed dialogue under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding and the Pakistan-Qatar Joint Statement, including the resumption of technical talks between Tehran and Washington.
Highlighting Pakistan’s recent diplomatic engagements, Andrabi said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar spoke with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud on July 30 to discuss developments in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb and Palestine.
He added that Dar also held a telephone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on August 3, during which both sides exchanged views on regional developments, including the situation in occupied East Jerusalem, while Pakistan invited the Iranian foreign minister to visit Islamabad.
The spokesperson said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was currently on an official visit to Saudi Arabia, accompanied by a high-level delegation including Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Asim Munir and other federal ministers.
During the visit, the prime minister is scheduled to hold talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to strengthen bilateral relations and discuss regional and international developments.
Andrabi said the visit, taking place amid heightened Gulf tensions, would further deepen strategic cooperation, strengthen bilateral ties and enhance coordination on regional and international issues.
He also highlighted Pakistan’s participation in the Ministerial Meeting on Jerusalem held in Amman on August 5, where the country reiterated its unwavering support for the Palestinian people and reaffirmed its commitment to the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state based on the pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
The spokesperson said the foreign ministers of the R-4 Group — Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye — also reaffirmed their support for the Palestinian cause and stressed continued diplomacy to promote regional peace, security and stability.
On attacks targeting commercial vessels in Bab al-Mandeb, Andrabi said Pakistan had consistently condemned attacks on maritime shipping regardless of the nationality of the vessels and reaffirmed continued Pakistan-Saudi Arabia cooperation.
Responding to a question on Afghanistan, he said Pakistan had repeatedly conveyed its concerns to Afghan authorities regarding the use of Afghan territory by terrorist groups to launch attacks inside Pakistan and urged Kabul to prevent its soil from being used against any country.
On Jammu and Kashmir, Andrabi rejected India’s remarks regarding the ongoing Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections, describing them as baseless and politically motivated.
He said the elections were being conducted peacefully and transparently under AJK’s constitutional framework and reiterated Pakistan’s longstanding position that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute should be resolved in accordance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
Regarding Bangladesh, the spokesperson said Pakistan’s engagement with Dhaka continued through normal diplomatic channels and reaffirmed Pakistan’s policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries while expressing respect for Bangladesh’s sovereignty and continued cooperation for mutual progress.
