Pakistan Reaffirms Diplomatic Pathways Between US and Iran Amid Rising Regional Tensions

Islamabad — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced on Tuesday that Pakistan will sustain diplomatic efforts to restart negotiations between the United States and Iran, warning that escalating conflicts and the erosion of international rules threaten global stability.

Islamabad is working to maintain its mediation role in the US-Iran conflict, mindful of potential disruptions to energy supplies and shipping through the Gulf and Red Sea. Pakistan has consistently advocated for a diplomatic settlement, emphasizing that military confrontation could trigger wider economic shocks, especially for developing nations reliant on imported energy and food.

“Our experience reinforces a simple conviction: even amid serious confrontation, channels of communication must remain open,” Dar stated at the opening of the Margalla Dialogue 2026 in Islamabad, an event centered on the shifting global order.

Closing them only makes the next crisis more difficult to manage and peace increasingly out of reach.

Dar noted that Pakistan’s diplomatic engagement included talks hosted in Islamabad between the United States and Iran in April, along with a memorandum of understanding signed on June 18, which he described as a foundation for future negotiations.

He added that he has remained engaged with Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Egypt through a regional four-country grouping that held consultations on October 23 with Britain, France, Germany, and Italy.

“Pakistan will continue pursuing all diplomatic efforts with regional partners and parties involved to sustain engagement, restore dialogue, and facilitate a return to the negotiating table,” he stated.

The deputy prime minister warned that intensifying rivalries, prolonged conflicts, and the erosion of arms control agreements are heightening the risk of miscalculation, while political divisions are weakening multilateral institutions, particularly the United Nations.

“Selective application of international law further weakens confidence in the institutions established to uphold it,” he said. “When agreed principles are applied inconsistently, their authority erodes and every country becomes less secure.”

Dar stated that Pakistan supports a more representative multipolar international order, but cautioned that a wider distribution of power will not necessarily yield greater fairness or stability without effective institutions and adherence to agreed rules.

He linked the evolving security environment to economic vulnerabilities, warning that conflicts could rapidly disrupt trade, technology, energy supplies, and access to finance.

“A security crisis can become an economic shock,” he said. “That shock can elevate current food and fuel prices, threaten livelihoods, and further strain public services.”

He emphasized that Pakistan will continue strengthening partnerships with China, the United States, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and other nations, while pursuing economic diplomacy to attract investment, expand exports, and build technological capacity.

Dar reiterated Pakistan’s positions on Kashmir, the Indus Waters Treaty, and security threats emanating from Afghanistan, emphasizing that regional stability hinges on respect for international agreements and the peaceful resolution of disputes.

“The future international order will be shaped by the choices countries make today,” he said. “Pakistan will make these choices with a clear sense of its responsibilities to safeguard our sovereignty, advance the well-being of our people, and contribute to a more peaceful and equitable world.”

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