DPM says diplomatic engagement between Washington, Tehran was moving in a “positive direction” before the escalation
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Tuesday that Pakistan is actively working to promote de-escalation between the United States and Iran through diplomatic engagement and backchannel contacts, while expressing concern over what he described as a “sudden” coordinated attack by the United States and Israel on Iran.
Addressing the Senate, Dar said Pakistan had been in contact with counterparts from several countries over the past three days in an effort to persuade the parties to return to dialogue. “Through dialogue, a path of understanding can emerge,” he told lawmakers.
He said Pakistan had issued its first reaction to the situation on February 28 and immediately condemned the attack on Iran, describing Tehran as a neighbouring and brotherly Muslim country.
Dar noted that diplomatic engagement between Washington and Tehran had been moving in a “positive direction” before the escalation. He referred to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent visit to Austria, where Pakistani officials met Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency. “He was optimistic that dialogue was heading in a positive direction,” Dar said.
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The foreign minister also referred to a late-night conversation with the foreign minister of Oman, who told him the most recent round of talks between the United States and Iran had ended “on a positive note”. Dar said Oman’s foreign minister had travelled to Washington following the talks and conveyed to US leadership that discussions with Iran were progressing constructively.
Expressing concern over the developments, Dar said the attack appeared similar to the events of June last year, when tensions escalated into a 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel. He recalled that during that period he and Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi were attending a meeting in Istanbul.
Dar said that amid rising tensions at the time, Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir, who was travelling from the United States to Pakistan, was requested to stop in Istanbul for consultations. “On June 12, the field marshal and I had a meeting with Araghchi, where we tried to convince him to resolve things through diplomacy and dialogue,” he said.
He also referred to an August 2025 meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, where Pakistan raised the issue of Iran. Dar said Pakistan had opposed the US demand of zero uranium enrichment, arguing that Iran had the right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy. “We said peaceful use of nuclear energy was a legitimate right,” he told senators.
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According to Dar, discussions had included proposals for international monitoring arrangements and possible venues for further negotiations. “Islamabad was common in both suggestions…and we were happy to mediate,” he said.
He added that Pakistan had also played a role in preventing the conflict from widening. Referring to Pakistan’s Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement with Saudi Arabia, he said Tehran had sought assurances that Saudi territory would not be used against it.
“They asked for some assurances…that Saudi soil should not be used. I got them the assurances,” he said, adding that Iran’s restrained response toward Saudi Arabia and Oman reflected those understandings.
Dar reiterated that the ongoing conflict was not in anyone’s interest and emphasised Pakistan’s continued diplomatic engagement to reduce tensions.
He also informed the Senate that an in-camera briefing on the Middle East situation would be given to parliamentary and opposition leaders of both houses of parliament at 11:30am on Wednesday, adding that developments in Afghanistan would also be discussed.
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Turning to the repatriation of Pakistani nationals from Iran, Dar said about 35,000 Pakistanis were currently in the country. So far, 792 citizens, including 46 students, had been brought back, with 694 crossing into Pakistan through the Taftan border. He added that Islamabad was also in contact with Azerbaijan so that Pakistanis in northern parts of Iran could cross into Baku if needed.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he said, remained fully active in coordinating assistance and monitoring the situation. Dar also cautioned against emotional reactions at home, saying the responsibility of leadership was to manage public sentiment. “Do not let people get swayed,” he said.
Meanwhile, Senator Sherry Rehman called for a balanced and responsible foreign policy approach to safeguard Pakistan’s interests and stressed the need for national unity amid escalating tensions.
Senator Syed Ali Zafar proposed the development of a regional security framework to promote peace and stability, while Senator Afnanullah Khan said there was no justification for the attack on Iran and expressed grief over the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Senator Jam Saifullah Khan also said the martyrdom of Khamenei would be remembered.
