ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday reaffirmed its commitment to continuing diplomatic efforts aimed at easing tensions between the United States and Iran, saying it remained actively engaged with international partners to promote regional peace and stability.
Speaking during a weekly briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Pakistan believed in negotiations and diplomacy as essential tools for ensuring peace, stability and prosperity in the region.
In this regard, he said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had held telephone conversations with the leaders of Qatar and Azerbaijan.
Andrabi added that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar remained in contact with foreign ministers from several countries, including Saudi Arabia, Iran, China, Austria and Singapore.
The spokesperson said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had expressed full support for Pakistan’s diplomatic role.
During a phone call with Dar, Yi emphasised the importance of a sustainable ceasefire and dialogue, Andrabi added.
Islamabad has been playing a mediatory role between Tehran and Washington since the outbreak of hostilities in the Middle East.
The conflict erupted on February 28 after the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran, prompting retaliatory attacks by Tehran on Israeli targets and US military bases across the region.
Pakistan helped broker a two-week ceasefire on April 8 and later hosted delegations from both sides for peace talks, although the negotiations ended without a permanent agreement to end the conflict.
However, Pakistan has continued its mediation efforts between the US and Iran, with the Foreign Office spokesperson saying Islamabad had recently forwarded Tehran’s response to Washington’s proposal for a lasting peace deal.
“The US-Iran peace process is underway. We are engaged in it and remain hopeful,” he added.
Referring to reports regarding an Iranian aircraft in Pakistan, Andrabi rejected the claims as “misleading and sensationalised”.
He clarified that the Iranian aircraft had arrived in Islamabad during the ceasefire period for matters related to diplomatic personnel and administrative affairs.
On Pakistan’s relations with Gulf countries, the spokesperson said defence ties with brotherly nations were based on institutional frameworks and long-term policy considerations, and would not be affected by any individual visit or regional development.
Commenting on reports about deportations from the United Arab Emirates, Andrabi termed the figures exaggerated and said the total number of Pakistanis residing in the UAE should also be taken into account while assessing the issue.
Citing a statement from the interior ministry, he said the reports were considered “mala fide” after reviewing the available details and data.
“No country or sect specific deportations from any country including UAE are being carried out,” the interior ministry had said.
The ministry clarified that deportations, if any, were part of a routine process carried out in accordance with the host country’s regulations and legal system, including cases involving violations of laws, overstays or illegal documentation.