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Sunday, 26 July, 2026 | 11 Safar, 1448
Rs 20.00 | Vol XVII No 121 | 8 Pages | Lahore Edition
PAKISTAN, SAUDI ARABIA PUSH DIPLOMACY AS CHINA BACKS ISLAMABAD’S MEDIATION ON MIDDLE EAST CRISIS g
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DAR, PRINCE FAISAL REAFFIRM ‘CLOSE BILATERAL TIES,’ STRESS DIALOGUE TO EASE ESCALATING REGIONAL TENSIONS WANG YI URGES RETURN TO NEGOTIATIONS AS CONFLICT WIDENS ACROSS GULF AND RED SEA
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CHINA PLEDGES FIRM SUPPORT FOR PAKISTAN’S EFFORTS TO ADVANCE USIRAN CEASEFIRE AND LASTING PEACE
HOUTHI ATTACKS ON SAUDI OIL FACILITIES HEIGHTEN FEARS OF BROADER REGIONAL WAR AND ENERGY DISRUPTIONS
–, Iran explore path toward new talks with US in a China-initiated push — sources ISLAMABAD
REUTERS AND STAFF REPORT
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ISLAMABAD SALEEM JADOON
AKISTAN and Saudi Arabia on Saturday reaffirmed their close and brotherly ties and stressed the importance of sustained diplomacy and constructive engagement to defuse escalating tensions in the Middle East, as China reiterated its firm support for Pakistan's mediation efforts following the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the United States and Iran amid the widening regional conflict. According to a statement issued by the Foreign Office (FO), Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar held a telephone
conversation with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud. “The two leaders exchanged views on the latest regional developments and reaffirmed the close and brotherly ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia,” the statement said. The FO added that both leaders underscored the importance of “continued diplomacy” and reaffirmed their shared commitment to “promoting constructive engagement, peace and stability” across the region. The Middle East crisis, which has continued for nearly six months, has affected regional stability and disrupted energy supplies, with its repercussions extending well beyond the region. The development came as Yemen’s Houthis launched attacks on Saudi oil in-
Pakistan is actively exploring the possibility of reviving stalled US-Iran negotiations aimed at ending their nearly five-month-old conflict, with renewed diplomatic efforts gaining momentum following China's backing for Islamabad's mediation initiative amid escalating regional tensions and growing concerns over the disruption of vital Gulf trade and energy routes. According to three Pakistani sources, exploratory discussions took place during Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni's visit to Islamabad this week—his second trip in the past 10 days—as both sides examined prospects for restarting dialogue between Washington and Tehran. Momeni, who is considered close
stallations at two Red Sea ports on Saturday, raising fresh concerns that the conflict disrupting Gulf energy supplies could spread to another vital maritime corridor and further intensify Yemen’s long-running war. China reaffirms support for Pakistan’s mediation efforts Meanwhile, China reiterated its
to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, met Pakistani government leaders and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir during the visit, according to official Pakistani statements. However, all three sources cautioned that significant obstacles remain before any negotiations with the United States can resume. Strait of Hormuz tensions complicate mediation Pakistan has found itself navigating an increasingly delicate diplomatic landscape as it seeks to facilitate renewed dialogue. Earlier this week, Yemen’s Iranbacked Houthi movement declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia, a close ally of Pakistan that signed a mutual defence treaty with Islamabad last year.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 03 strong backing for Pakistan’s diplomatic role, with the spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs saying in a post on X that Beijing highly appreciated Pakistan’s key role in facilitating the memorandum of understanding reached between the United States and Iran.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 03
Dar showcases Pakistan's SCO vision, invites member states to Islamabad Summit 2027 ISLAMABAD
STAFF CORRESPONDENT
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar concluded a two-day visit to Kyrgyzstan by reaffirming Pakistan's commitment to advancing regional cooperation through the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and highlighting Islamabad's readiness to assume the organisation's chairmanship for 2026-27. According to the Foreign Office, Dar's participation in the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) meeting, held in Cholpon-Ata from July 23 to 24, provided an opportunity to reinforce Pakistan's historic ties with SCO member states and promote an agenda focused on regional connectivity, economic integration and shared prosperity. The Foreign Office spokesperson said Dar utilised both formal sessions and informal engagements with his counterparts to outline Pakistan's priorities for making SCO mechanisms more effective in promoting socio-economic cooperation and regional development. On the sidelines of the ministerial meeting, the deputy prime minister held extensive bilateral discussions with the foreign ministers of China, Iran, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, exchanging views on bilateral relations, regional developments and multilateral cooperation. During the visit, Dar also attended an informal dinner hosted by Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Zheenbek Moldokanovich Kulubaev in honour of the visiting delegations and later called on Kyrgyz President Sadyr Nurgozhoevich Zhaparov alongside other SCO foreign ministers. Conveying the greetings of Pakistan's leadership, Dar reaffirmed Islamabad's desire to further strengthen bilateral cooperation with Kyrgyzstan across diverse sectors. Leading Pakistan's delegation at the SCOCFM meeting, Dar reiterated the country's unwavering commitment to the SCO Charter and the "Shanghai Spirit" of mutual trust, respect, shared prosperity and development. He cautioned against confrontational geopolitics and the use of aggression as an instrument of state policy, stressing that dialogue and cooperation remained the only sustainable path to regional peace. Highlighting Pakistan's diplomatic efforts in the Middle East, Dar referred to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, describing it as a significant initiative aimed at promoting peace and stability in the region.