Pakistan intensifies diplomacy amid raging Middle East war

-- PM Shehbaz, DPM Dar urge dialogue with regional leaders to maintain peace and tranquillity

-- PM, Iranian President discuss escalating tensions and stress diplomacy and restraint

-- Dar engages Kuwait and Bangladesh counterparts as crisis deepens

-- Islamabad expresses solidarity with Gulf states amid ongoing regional attacks

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan stepped up diplomatic outreach on Wednesday as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held a series of high-level engagements with regional leaders, urging dialogue and de-escalation amid the intensifying Middle East conflict while also pushing forward strict domestic austerity measures.

Prime Minister Shehbaz held a telephone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to discuss the evolving regional situation following the ongoing war involving Iran, Israel, and the United States.

During the call, the prime minister expressed concern over rising tensions and stressed that Pakistan believes diplomatic engagement and dialogue remain essential to ensuring peace, stability, and de-escalation in the region. He emphasised that all parties must exercise restraint and responsibility to prevent further deterioration of the situation.

Shehbaz also underscored that Pakistan attaches great importance to its historic, religious, and cultural ties with Iran and seeks to further strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two neighbouring countries. He reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to enhancing engagement and collaboration with Tehran at all levels.

President Pezeshkian, in turn, reiterated Iran’s desire to deepen relations with Pakistan and highlighted the importance of working together to promote peace and stability in the region. He also briefed the prime minister on Tehran’s perspective regarding recent developments.

Both leaders agreed to maintain close contact and consultations in view of the evolving situation and to expand cooperation in various sectors while continuing high-level engagements.

Earlier, the prime minister had congratulated Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei after he assumed leadership following the assassination of his father, Ali Khamenei. In his message, Shehbaz expressed hope that the new leadership would guide Iran towards peace, stability and prosperity while reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations.

President Asif Ali Zardari also conveyed his good wishes to the new Iranian leader.

The war erupted last month when the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran that killed long-time Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The conflict quickly escalated as Tehran responded with missile and drone attacks against Israeli targets and locations linked to US forces across the Middle East.

On Wednesday, Iran launched fresh missile and drone strikes targeting Israeli cities and Gulf infrastructure, including a Saudi oilfield. Explosions were also reported in Doha as air defence systems intercepted incoming missiles. Meanwhile, Israel carried out heavy strikes across Lebanon, killing at least 16 people and wounding dozens in Beirut and southern regions.

Iranian forces also targeted Bahrain and Iraqi Kurdistan, both areas hosting significant US military presence, further widening the scope of the conflict.

The escalating war has triggered turbulence in global energy markets, particularly after threats to close the Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes.

Amid the unfolding crisis, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar also held separate telephone conversations with the foreign ministers of Kuwait and Bangladesh, discussing the implications of the Middle East situation for regional peace and stability.

During his call with Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Dar stressed the urgent need for dialogue and de-escalation while expressing Pakistan’s solidarity with the leadership and people of Kuwait following recent attacks.

Both leaders also exchanged views on developments under discussion at the United Nations Security Council and reaffirmed the longstanding brotherly ties between Pakistan and Kuwait.

In a separate conversation with Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, the two sides voiced concern over the rapidly evolving situation in the Middle East and its broader implications for global and regional stability.

They reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening Pakistan-Bangladesh relations and agreed to maintain close engagement to advance bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

Meanwhile, Dar also chaired a meeting of the committee tasked with monitoring and implementing the government’s conservation and additional austerity measures, formed under the directives of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

During the meeting, the deputy prime minister directed all ministries and divisions to ensure strict and transparent implementation of the austerity plan aimed at promoting fiscal discipline and prudent use of public resources.

The committee reviewed progress on several initiatives, including the federal cabinet’s decision to forgo salaries, reductions in government expenditure across ministries and departments, and deductions from the salaries of senior officials earning Rs300,000 or more per month.

The meeting was attended by federal ministers for finance and revenue, climate change, information and broadcasting, petroleum, and information technology and telecom, along with senior government officials and relevant stakeholders. Provincial chief secretaries also participated to ensure coordinated implementation of the measures across both federal and provincial levels.