ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Monday highlighted Pakistan\u2019s mediation efforts between the United States and Iran, affirming that Islamabad \u201cnever gave up\u201d.<\/p>\n
He made the remarks while addressing the 8th Global Security Forum being held in Qatar\u2019s capital, Doha. Convened under the title \u201cThe Future of Alliances\u201c, the forum brings together high-ranking officials and dignitaries from over 100 nations, according to Qatar News Agency<\/em>.<\/p>\n \u201cThe last few months have been very difficult for our region. The conflict involving Iran and the United States created serious risks not only for the Middle East, but for the entire world,\u201d Naqvi noted.<\/p>\n He added that at such a critical time, Pakistan chose the path of peace and made \u201cevery possible effort to reduce tensions\u201d.<\/p>\n Naqvi, who has been involved in Islamabad\u2019s peace efforts and has made several trips to Iran since the war began, said: \u201cThere were moments when the situation was extremely tense, but we never gave up.<\/p>\n \u201cWe continued talking, listening and working to build trust. And I can tell you from my experience: peace is not achieved in one meeting; it requires patience, trust and continuous efforts.\u201d<\/p>\n He particularly highlighted the \u201cremarkable role\u201d of Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir in Pakistan\u2019s efforts to reduce tensions.<\/p>\n CDF Munir, accompanied by Naqvi, had visited Iran in August \u201cas part of Pakistan\u2019s efforts to promote regional peace and stability\u201d. The interior minister last made a visit to Iran in September, with Tehran describing the trip as part of bilateral engagements.<\/p>\n Speaking at the Doha forum, Naqvi recalled the June 18 signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Iran and the US. The 14-point MoU, which Pakistan signed as a mediator, provided a framework for ending the war that began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran on Feb 28.<\/p>\n The interior minister recalled that the MoU was followed by the Lake Lucerne Summit in Switzerland, organised by mediators Pakistan and Qatar.<\/p>\n \u201cThere, I saw something I will never forget,\u201d he said, adding that Qatar\u2019s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and CDF Munir worked for \u201cmore than 16 hours without a single break\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cNo cameras, no announcements; only two men who refused to let the talks fail,\u201d Naqvi remarked, emphasising that the only aim of the two mediating countries was to \u201cstop further conflict and to save innocent lives\u201d.<\/p>\n The minister praised Qatar\u2019s peace efforts, noting it had \u201cdone so much\u201d. \u201cIn the diplomacy of our time, when others chose sides, Qatar chose to keep talking. Pakistan has seen this closely because we have worked beside you.\u201d<\/p>\n He stressed that Pakistan has always believed that \u201cdialogue is better than war\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cOur recent experience has taught us three important lessons: never close the door to dialogue, trust is the most important key for any kind of talk, and thirdly, peace requires sincere efforts from everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n The senator emphasised that no single country could achieve regional peace alone.<\/p>\n \u201cPakistan is proud of the role it has played in the regional peace efforts,\u201d he said, reaffirming that Islamabad would continue to support dialogue, peace and cooperation.<\/p>\n \u201cWe believe that winning peace is far more important than winning a war,\u201d the minister remarked.<\/p>\n He conveyed Pakistan\u2019s message: \u201cWe do not want credit for stopping wars. We want a future where wars do not start.\u201d<\/p>\n The war between Washington and Tehran began in February with US-Israeli strikes on Iran, which responded with retaliatory attacks on nearby Gulf countries.<\/p>\n While diplomatic engagements continue, there has been a lack of progress in recent weeks in negotiations to end the war.<\/p>\n After an interim ceasefire collapsed, Iran in September presented its proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz \u2014 the key oil trade route that has remained central to the conflict.<\/p>\n The US said it had rejected that proposal, while Iran\u2019s security chief said negotiations have stalled because Washington failed to address all seven conditions for reopening the strait. On Sunday, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran\u2019s offer to the US to reopen the waterway within seven days was still on the table.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the Middle East is currently facing heightened tensions on another front as Houthi rebels attack Saudi Arabia after a truce in their long-running war with Yemen\u2019s coalition government unravelled in July.<\/p>\n During his address, Naqvi cited the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement signed among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye in August as an example of Islamabad\u2019s commitment to regional security.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is a pact for defence, not for war,\u201d he declared, adding that no country could \u201cenjoy lasting peace if its neighbours are facing conflicts\u201d.<\/p>\n The pact, under which the three countries have formed the Makkah Defence Alliance, empowers its signatory states to treat an attack against one of them as an attack against all of them.<\/p>\n Naqvi also spoke about countering security challenges and called for stronger international cooperation on the matter.<\/p>\n \u201cAs Pakistan\u2019s interior minister, I also understand the price of terrorism and insecurity. Pakistan has suffered greatly; thousands of our citizens, soldiers, and policemen have lost their lives. Even today, we continue to fight.\u201d<\/p>\n Describing terrorism as a \u201ccommon enemy\u201d, he called for \u201cstronger cooperation, better intelligence-sharing and joint efforts to defeat it\u201d.<\/p>\n The senator noted that counterterrorism cooperation was not something Pakistan has only sought, but also provided. He then highlighted the country\u2019s contributions to the United Nations\u2019 peacekeeping missions.<\/p>\n \u201cOur UN police peacekeepers have helped protect civilians, support local police and restore peace in countries affected by conflict. We are proud of their services and sacrifices,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Monday highlighted Pakistan\u2019s mediation efforts between the United States and Iran, affirming that Islamabad \u201cnever gave up\u201d. He made the remarks while addressing the 8th Global Security Forum being held in Qatar\u2019s capital, Doha. Convened under the title \u201cThe Future of Alliances\u201c, the forum brings together high-ranking officials and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":3674,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[105],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3683","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-world"],"yoast_head":"\nMakkah alliance \u2018not for war\u2019<\/h2>\n