ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar Monday said Pakistan wanted that all sides in the ongoing regional conflict should give priority to negotiations and diplomacy.
Speaking to members of diplomatic corps based in Islamabad, he said Pakistan was making all diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation.
“We are passing through difficult times in terms of diplomacy,” he added.
He said, “All our efforts are focused on reducing tensions and bringing the parties back to the negotiations.”
“Negotiations and diplomacy was the only way forward,” he remarked.
The DPM said Pakistan was closely monitoring the situation in Iran.
He said Pakistan had always supported the upholding of international law.
The DPM said, “Pakistan supports the efforts for peaceful settlement of disputes through diplomacy.”
Talking about Palestine, he said, “Pakistan has been a contributor to resolving the situation of Gaza.”
He recalled that a group of Arab Islamic countries had meaningful interaction with the US President Donald Trump to bring peace back to Gaza and ensure supply of humanitarian aid.
He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attended the Board of Peace meeting chaired by US President Donald Trump.
Referring to the ongoing conflict, he said in an attack on United Arab Emirates, one Pakistani citizen was killed.
He said Pakistan desired good friendly relations with all its neighbours.
He said, “We took into confidence friendly and brotherly countries on the situation in Afghanistan.”
He recalled that he undertook visits to Afghanistan and had extensive discussions with the Taliban leadership on issues of trade and economy.
He said Pakistan only asked Afghanistan to not let its soil used for terrorism.
“We have solid evidence that the soil of Afghanistan was used for terrorism,” he stressed.