Pakistan on Sunday expressed "deep concern" over the latest escalation in the Middle East following renewed military exchanges between the U.S. and Iran. It urged all sides to exercise restraint and honour commitments made under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The appeal came as fresh U.S. strikes on Iran and Tehran's retaliatory attacks on American facilities across the Gulf renewed concerns over regional stability, global energy supplies and maritime security.
In a statement, Pakistan's Foreign Office said it was "following with deep concern the recent incidents that are further escalating the regional tensions."
It reiterated Pakistan's "strong support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all brotherly countries in the region" and urged all sides to "exercise restraint, take immediate steps towards de-escalation, and uphold respective commitments under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding."
"On its part, Pakistan remains committed to providing all support towards achieving lasting peace and stability in the region through dialogue and diplomacy," the statement added.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi on Sunday to discuss the evolving regional situation.
According to the Foreign Office, Dar urged all parties to pursue de-escalation and exercise restraint in line with commitments made under the Islamabad MoU. He said dialogue and diplomacy remained "the only viable path" to resolving disputes and achieving lasting peace and stability. The two foreign ministers agreed to remain in close contact.
The diplomatic outreach follows Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's separate telephone conversations on Friday with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Qatar's Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
The prime minister expressed deep concern over the renewed tensions and called on Iran and all other parties to avoid actions that could jeopardise the "hard earned peace gains" achieved in recent months.
He also stressed the importance of implementing commitments under the Islamabad MoU, describing it as an enduring framework for promoting mutual understanding, regional peace and shared prosperity.
The latest escalation comes weeks after the Islamabad MoU was signed on 18 June, establishing a 14-point interim framework aimed at ending hostilities, reopening the Strait of Hormuz and launching negotiations on broader regional security issues.
The renewed fighting has once again placed the Strait of Hormuz at the centre of the crisis, raising concerns over global oil supplies and international shipping through one of the world's most strategically important maritime routes.
Pakistani officials have repeatedly warned that a prolonged confrontation could undermine the diplomatic progress achieved under the Islamabad MoU, destabilise the Middle East and increase pressure on global energy markets, reinforcing Islamabad's call for dialogue before the conflict widens further.
An agreement between Iran and the U.S. to reopen the Strait of Hormuz is expected "soon," a U.S. official has said. The deal would result in the resum...
Typhoon Dolphin lashed Japan’s southern Okinawa prefecture on Saturday, injuring six people, disrupting flights and leaving more than 50,000 buildin...
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev and Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan remarked upon progress made towards normalising relations between...
An agreement between Iran and the U.S. to reopen the Strait of Hormuz is expected "soon," a U.S. official has said. The deal would result in the resumption of commercial shipping through the sea passage and the lifting of an American naval blockade on Iranian ports.
U.S. President Donald Trump said negotiations to reopen the Strait of Hormuz are progressing and suggested an agreement with Iran could be reached “soon”.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 8th of August, covering the latest developments.
U.S. President Donald Trump may have to accept concessions he previously opposed if he wants to secure a deal with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, according to analysts, as negotiators move closer to a temporary agreement.
A U.S. judge has ordered Meta to pay an additional $567 million over claims that its platforms failed to protect children from online harm.
Glacier coverage in Kyrgyzstan’s Issyk-Kul Basin has shrunk by 33.7 per cent over the past 70–90 years, according to an updated glacier inventory by Kyrgyzhydromet. The agency says the pace of glacier retreat has accelerated sharply in recent years.
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev and Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan remarked upon progress made towards normalising relations between Baku and Yerevan in a phone call on the first anniversary of the Washington peace summit.
Tourists may soon be able to view Kazakhstan’s tourist sites by drone. Officials are planning to trial flights of between five and 30 minutes over landmarks in the country, its Ministry of Transport said.
Tashkent has begun work to open the Islam Karimov Memorial Complex to the public as part of plans for a 700-hectare green corridor linking major parks and public spaces across the Uzbek capital.
Kyrgyzstan has introduced mandatory permits for climbers attempting Victory Peak, imposing stricter safety and experience requirements following a series of fatal accidents on one of the world’s most dangerous mountains.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment