Islamabad, March 18: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar is visiting Saudi Arabia to attend a meeting of the foreign ministers of regional countries, where he will push for a “swift end” to the West Asia conflict, the Foreign Office said on Wednesday.
During his visit to Riyadh from March 18 to 19, Dar will “express complete support for the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and political independence of all brotherly countries in the region, and call for an end to all attacks on their territory,” it said.
He will reiterate Pakistan’s call for a swift end to the ongoing conflict and urge the need for a return to dialogue and diplomacy.
Dar will also highlight Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach efforts as well as its desire to continue playing a pivotal role towards resolving the prevailing grave security crisis being faced by the region, the FO said.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif received a telephone call from the ruler of Oman, Haitham bin Tariq, according to a statement by the PM Office.
“The two leaders discussed the evolving regional situation and, while conveying Pakistan’s solidarity with the brotherly people of Oman over the loss of precious lives and injuries during the attacks in various parts of the country, the Prime Minister emphasised the importance of maintaining peace, stability, and constructive dialogue,” it said.
Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening the longstanding fraternal relations between Pakistan and Oman.
Shehbaz reiterated his invitation to the Sultan of Oman for an official visit to Pakistan, who also invited PM Shehbaz to undertake a visit to Oman. The two also exchanged greetings on the auspicious occasion of Eid.
Separately, PM Shehbaz also held a telephone conversation with the Crown Prince of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al Khaled and “condemned in the strongest terms the attacks on Kuwait” and expressed condolences over the loss of lives, while expressing solidarity and support to Kuwait.
“He further stressed the need for all the regional countries to work together to maintain peace, stability, and resolve all differences through dialogue and diplomacy,” according to another statement.
While reaffirming the strong historic fraternal bonds between Pakistan and Kuwait, the Prime Minister invited the Crown Prince for an official visit. The two exchanged greetings on the auspicious occasion of Eid al-Fitr.
A day earlier, Foreign Minister Dar spoke with Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan and discussed the evolving regional situation and expressed serious concern over the rising tensions, according to the Foreign Office.
“DPM/FM underscored the urgent need for de-escalation and emphasised that constructive dialogue and diplomacy remain the only effective means to resolve issues and promote peace and stability in the region,” it said. (PTI)
