ISLAMABAD: Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, on Saturday lauded Pakistan for its proactive role in promoting peace and stability in the Middle East through dialogue and diplomacy during a phone call with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.
The conversation comes amid heightened tensions in the region following the US and Israeli air strikes last month that resulted in the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several senior officials, triggering retaliatory attacks by Tehran on US military installations across the Gulf. The escalation has significantly broadened the scope of the conflict, raising concerns over regional security, energy supplies, and trade routes.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), the two leaders “discussed prevailing regional and international developments and emphasised the urgent need for de-escalation.” The Qatari side expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to foster peace and stability through constructive diplomacy.
The statement added that both countries reaffirmed the long-standing and deep-rooted ties between Pakistan and Qatar, agreeing to maintain close coordination on evolving developments in the region.
In a parallel development, FM Dar also held a telephonic conversation with his Indonesian counterpart Sugiono, discussing bilateral matters and regional and international developments. Both sides reiterated strong fraternal ties between Pakistan and Indonesia and committed to remaining in close contact.
Earlier on Saturday, MOFA announced that the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Egypt would visit Islamabad on March 29–30 at the invitation of FM Dar. These nations, along with Pakistan, have been actively engaged in mediation efforts between Washington and Tehran following the war launched by the US and Israel on February 28.
Officials said Pakistan had conveyed a US proposal for ending the conflict to Tehran and offered to host peace talks, with Iranian authorities indicating that any negotiations could be held either in Pakistan or Turkey. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif publicly offered Islamabad as a venue for US-Iran talks, a move further boosted when former US President Donald Trump reposted the offer on his Truth Social platform, signaling Washington’s tacit endorsement of Pakistan’s emerging role as a regional mediator.
FM Dar confirmed on Thursday that indirect communications between the US and Iran are underway via Pakistan, with assistance from Turkiye and Egypt, highlighting Islamabad’s growing influence in efforts to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East.
