Pakistan offers to host US-Iran talks amid rising Middle East tensions

Pakistan has offered to facilitate dialogue between the United States and Iran as tensions in the Middle East escalate, reaffirming its support for diplomatic engagement.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar emphasized Islamabad’s commitment to diplomacy while dismissing a recent peace prize nomination linked to the India-Pakistan conflict as “infructuous.” Speaking to reporters, he questioned the credibility of the award and its relevance to ongoing regional disputes. “Those who were to give the peace prize, are they blind? This matter becomes infructuous,” he said.

Pakistan ready to mediate

Dar reiterated that Pakistan is prepared to host negotiations if both the United States and Iran agree. “We are ready for all assistance. If both parties want to talk in Islamabad, we are ready for that. We are at any time ready for all sorts of mediation,” he stated, recalling a proposal last year to hold US-Iran talks in the Pakistani capital.

He added that Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts focus on bringing all sides to the negotiating table amid rising regional tensions.

Balancing regional relations

Highlighting Islamabad’s active diplomacy, Dar pointed to the country’s defence pact with Saudi Arabia and ongoing communications with Iranian authorities. “We have a defence pact with Saudi Arabia. I conveyed to the Iranian side about our defence pact, to which he asked me to ensure that KSA’s land was not used,” he explained. He said shuttle diplomacy has helped reduce attacks from Iran toward Saudi Arabia and Oman.

Protecting Pakistanis abroad amid crisis

Dar noted that approximately 4.5 million Pakistanis reside across Iran and Gulf countries, including 35,000 in Iran. He provided a country-by-country breakdown:

• United Arab Emirates: 2.1 million, including 4,000 temporary travelers
• Saudi Arabia: 2.5 million; situation stable
• Qatar: 350,000, including 1,400 temporary residents
• Kuwait: 102,000
• Oman: 382,000
• Bahrain: 134,000
• Iran: 35,000, with evacuation efforts underway

Pakistan’s embassies in the region remain fully operational, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Crisis Management Unit is functioning 24/7. Some airspace over Iran and the Gulf remains closed, prompting use of land routes for safe exit.

Evacuations and regional cooperation

Dar confirmed that 1,400 people have returned from Iran so far, including 792 Pakistani nationals and over 300 Iranian nationals holding Pakistani visas. He expressed gratitude to Azerbaijan for facilitating transit through its northern border and visa-on-arrival arrangements. He added there are no stranded citizens in Bahrain, Oman, or Jordan.

In recent days, Dar said he engaged with foreign ministers from Turkey, Maldives, Bangladesh, Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Iraq, Bahrain, Azerbaijan, and representatives of the European Union. He also met the Chinese ambassador in Islamabad to discuss Iran-US tensions, emphasizing Pakistan’s coordination with China on regional stability.

Turning to historical regional conflicts, Dar referenced the four-day India-Pakistan confrontation, saying Islamabad responded decisively. He stressed that Pakistan continues to urge all parties to avoid further hostilities and prioritize negotiations. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to brief parliamentary leaders from all parties on Tuesday regarding regional security developments.

Dar confirmed Pakistan’s leadership extended condolences over the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, while former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also condemned the developments.

On Gaza, he highlighted an eight-country Muslim initiative promoting ceasefire, humanitarian access, reconstruction, and a two-state solution. “Whenever Israel violates the Gaza agreement, the eight Muslim countries jointly condemn it,” Dar said, reiterating Pakistan’s commitment to regional peace and citizen protection abroad.