Omani Foreign Minister to Hold Talks in Pakistan Over Regional Security and Strait of Hormuz Concerns

ISLAMABAD: Oman’s foreign minister is set to arrive in Pakistan for a two‑day visit today, Tuesday, amid growing regional worries about the Strait of Hormuz blockade and increased Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, including strikes on civilian infrastructure that have resulted in Pakistani casualties.

The visit comes as Pakistan aims to help de‑escalate the Middle East conflict through diplomatic channels, while confronting heightened economic and security challenges linked to disruptions in Gulf energy supplies and attacks on Saudi Arabia, a key regional ally.

Oman, which shares control of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz with Iran through their respective territorial waters, has historically acted as a mediator in regional disputes, including those between Tehran and Washington.

Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi is scheduled to visit Pakistan on 13‑14 October at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s foreign ministry said in a statement issued on Monday evening.

“During the visit, the 8th Session of the Pakistan‑Oman Joint Ministerial Commission will be held in Islamabad,” the ministry said.

“The session will be co‑chaired by the foreign ministers of the two countries. This meeting will provide a crucial platform to review the full range of bilateral ties and to deepen cooperation across various sectors.”

The ministry’s statement did not refer to Middle East hostilities, nor was there any indication that these issues were formally on the agenda. Nonetheless, the escalating regional crisis is of concern to both countries because of their economic and security interests in the Gulf.

The Strait of Hormuz, which links the Arabian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, is one of the world’s most critical energy shipping routes. Disruptions to traffic through the waterway have affected global oil supplies and driven up energy costs, especially for import‑dependent economies like Pakistan.

The visit also follows a series of attacks carried out by Yemen’s Iran‑aligned Houthi militia against Saudi airports and other civilian facilities, heightening concerns about the widening regional impact of the US‑Iran conflict.

A Pakistani national was killed and 11 other people were injured in an attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Sunday, according to Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation.

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Türkiye condemned the attacks in a joint statement on Sunday, demanding their immediate cessation and reaffirming support for Riyadh’s efforts to protect its security and territorial integrity.

Pakistan has also pursued diplomatic engagement to contain the wider conflict, while reaffirming its security commitments to Saudi Arabia under bilateral and trilateral defence arrangements.

Pakistan’s foreign ministry said Albusaidi is also expected to meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during his stay in Islamabad.

Pakistan and Oman maintain long‑standing diplomatic, economic and people‑to‑people ties, including cooperation in trade and employment, with Oman hosting a sizable Pakistani expatriate community.

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