Pakistan steps up diplomacy to ease regional tensions

August 12, 2026 (MLN): Pakistan on Wednesday reiterated its commitment to dialogue and diplomacy as the preferred means of promoting peace and stability in the Gulf and wider Middle East, with the Foreign Office maintaining active contacts with regional stakeholders amid persistent tensions.

At the weekly press briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Islamabad was pursuing diplomatic efforts to bring the relevant parties back to the negotiating table and use both direct and indirect channels to facilitate dialogue.

He said the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), although not fully implemented, had created a framework for advancing peace and stability. According to Tahir Andrabi, negotiations could resume when the rationale for dialogue prevailed over escalation, according to APP.

Pakistan has also stepped-up engagement with regional partners. Bahrain’s foreign minister is expected to visit Pakistan following a conversation with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on August 11, during which Ishaq Dar welcomed the proposed visit and reaffirmed Islamabad’s support for diplomatic engagement.

Commenting on the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, Tahir Andrabi termed the accord a natural extension of the longstanding strategic and fraternal ties among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.

He described it as defensive in character and aimed at strengthening collective security and addressing common threats.

The spokesperson rejected suggestions that the agreement had been concluded without consulting relevant stakeholders or following established procedures.

He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar were both directly involved, while Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir was also fully on board.

Tahir Andrabi said Ishaq Dar had described the agreement as a historic milestone in his message to the nation on August 10, crediting the country’s political, military and diplomatic leadership for its conclusion.

Pakistan has meanwhile expanded diplomatic contacts across the region. Ishaq Dar held separate discussions on August 10 with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Iran and Kuwait on bilateral ties, regional developments, the Makkah Agreement and efforts to promote stability.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi was also in Tehran for talks with senior Iranian officials covering bilateral relations, security and regional matters.

On Pakistan-New Zealand relations, Tahir Andrabi said the two countries held the fifth round of Political Consultations and the third meeting of the Joint Trade Committee in Wellington on August 6.

The talks covered trade, investment, agriculture, livestock, IT, education, counterterrorism and people-to-people contacts, while an Education Cooperation Arrangement was also signed.

Pakistan also condemned the attack on a commercial vessel in the Bab al-Mandab area of the Red Sea, which resulted in the deaths of three Pakistani nationals and injuries to another, according to information available to the government.

The Foreign Office said Pakistan was coordinating with Saudi authorities and Yemen’s internationally recognized government to determine further details. Arrangements were also being made to recover and repatriate the remains of the deceased and provide medical assistance to the injured Pakistani national.

Tahir Andrabi reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for freedom of navigation and maritime security in international waters and said Islamabad was prepared to assist Saudi Arabia and other partners in implementing the maritime coalition announced by Riyadh to safeguard global trade routes and supply chains.

Rejecting recent Indian statements regarding Azad Jammu and Kashmir, the spokesperson termed the allegations baseless and accused New Delhi of attempting to politicize developments in AJK.

He reiterated Pakistan’s stated support for the fundamental rights and democratic freedoms of the people of AJK and the right to self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

On the economic front, Tahir Andrabi said Pakistan had completed three reviews under its ongoing IMF programme, which he described as focused on structural reforms and stronger fiscal management.

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