— Islamabad had secured US-Iran consent for talks on its soil before escalation
— Pakistan exchanged proposals between Washington and Tehran to build consensus
— Fresh Israeli attacks on Iran disrupt fragile diplomatic momentum
— Prolonged conflict risks global economic fallout, including rising oil prices
ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Tuesday accused Israel of undermining Pakistan’s efforts to broker dialogue between the United States and Iran, saying recent strikes on Tehran came just as both sides were nearing formal talks.
Addressing the Senate, Dar said Islamabad had made significant progress in facilitating negotiations, with Washington and Tehran agreeing in principle to hold talks in Pakistan. “We were very optimistic before Monday night,” he said, noting that both countries had accepted Islamabad’s role as a mediator.
According to the foreign minister, Pakistan had already played a key diplomatic role by conveying a 15-point set of conditions from the US to Iran, while also delivering Tehran’s five-point proposals to Washington in an effort to bridge differences.
However, he lamented that the momentum toward dialogue was disrupted by fresh Israeli strikes on Iran, which he said had complicated an already fragile situation. “Pakistan tried until the last moment to create space for a pause and meaningful engagement,” he added.
Dar revealed that the United Nations secretary-general had contacted him to acknowledge Pakistan’s peace efforts and offer support, but recent developments had reversed progress and heightened tensions across the region.
He warned that escalating hostilities — including Israeli attacks on Iranian fuel facilities and Iran’s retaliatory strike on Saudi Arabia’s petrochemical infrastructure — had made the situation increasingly volatile.
The foreign minister cautioned that a prolonged conflict could have far-reaching global consequences, particularly through rising oil prices and economic strain, including for Pakistan. Despite setbacks, he expressed hope that sustained diplomatic engagement could still lead to a “dignified resolution”.
Recalling earlier developments, Dar said he was in Madina attending an OIC meeting when the initial attack on Iran occurred. He immediately directed the Foreign Office to issue a strong condemnation and reached out to his Iranian counterpart to convey Pakistan’s solidarity.
Since then, Pakistan has remained in close contact with key international partners, including China, Japan, the United Kingdom, Canada and several European countries, urging restraint and de-escalation.
Highlighting Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach, Dar said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, and the Foreign Office had remained fully engaged throughout the process.
He also referred to a March 19 meeting in Riyadh hosted by Saudi Arabia, where representatives from 12 countries issued a joint statement — with Pakistan’s input — condemning Israeli actions. Additionally, a quadrilateral forum involving Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Türkiye and Pakistan sought to advance peace efforts, with follow-up discussions held in Islamabad on March 29.
Dar further noted that Pakistan had engaged China at a high level, including discussions on a five-point peace initiative during his visit on March 31.
Separately, the foreign minister held telephone conversations with his counterparts from Bahrain and Norway. In both discussions, leaders reviewed the regional situation, stressed the importance of stability, and agreed to remain in close contact as diplomatic efforts continue.
