FM Dar to visit China on 31 March for talks on regional tensions

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will visit China on Tuesday at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to hold in-depth discussions on regional tensions, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced in a post on X on Monday.

“Pakistan and China enjoy an all-weather strategic cooperative partnership, characterised by close coordination and regular consultations on regional and international issues,” the Foreign Office said.

The statement stated that within this context of deep cooperation, the visit will allow the two sides to “hold in-depth discussions on regional developments” and global matters of shared concern.

The visit comes as Islamabad concluded a four-nation meeting aimed at promoting dialogue and diplomacy to end hostilities in the Middle East.

Yesterday’s meeting concluded with initial discussions reportedly focused on proposals to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping. Foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Egypt landed in Islamabad for the talks. The discussions came as Iran warned the US against launching a ground attack, and global oil prices surged amid continued fighting between Iran, the US, and Israel.

Along with calling for an urgent halt to hostilities, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in a post on X, reaffirmed Pakistan’s “strong commitment and resolve to play a positive role in bringing both Iran and the US to the negotiating table,” appreciating Turkiye and Egypt’s “valuable contributions” to the matter.

Dar revealed on Sunday that China extended full support to Islamabad’s initiative following his telephonic conversation with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. “Initiating peace talks is no easy task, but it is the only viable path to avoid further casualties and losses,” Yi said, according to an official Chinese readout.

“I briefed the visiting brotherly foreign ministers about the prospects of potential US-Iran talks in Islamabad. The visiting foreign ministers expressed their fullest support for this initiative,” Dar said in a televised statement after the four-way talks.

“Pakistan will be honoured to host and facilitate meaningful talks between the two sides, for a comprehensive and lasting settlement,” Dar said, adding that both Tehran and Washington had expressed confidence in Islamabad’s role as a neutral facilitator.

Islamabad has already played a behind-the-scenes role in transmitting a 15-point US proposal to Tehran, a move seen as laying the groundwork for possible direct engagement.

The development marks a significant diplomatic moment for Pakistan, which has quietly positioned itself as a key intermediary between the United States and Iran in recent weeks.

The ministry noted that FM Dar’s visit will proceed “despite medical advice to rest following a hairline fracture to his shoulder sustained yesterday,” underscoring the importance Pakistan attaches to its relationship with China.

Dar sustained the injury on Sunday after slipping and falling while receiving the Egyptian foreign minister in Islamabad, his son Ali Dar confirmed in a post on X.