Foreign minister stresses implementing Islamabad MoU \u2018in letter and spirit\u2019, exchanges views with Chinese ambassador
\n Islamabad
\nDeputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday met the United States Charg\u00e9 d\u2019Affaires Natalie Baker and the United Kingdom High Commissioner to Pakistan Jane Marriott, among other dignitaries, discussing regional developments.
\nAccording to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), FM Dar \u201cappreciated the positive trajectory in Pakistan-US relations and underscored the importance of dialogue and diplomacy for lasting peace.\u201d
\nThe ministry added that the foreign minister emphasised that the implementation of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, in letter and spirit, was the only way forward. \u201cHe reaffirmed Pakistan\u2019s commitment to regional peace and security while safeguarding its national interests,\u201d MoFA noted.
\nAccording to MoFA, Baker \u201cappreciated Pakistan\u2019s constructive role in promoting regional peace and stability and conveyed felicitations to the DPM\/FM on Pakistan\u2019s Independence Day.\u201d
\nMeeting with High Commissioner Marriott, FM Dar \u201cappreciated the positive momentum in Pakistan-UK relations,\u201d MoFA said. It added that the foreign minister \u201crecalled his recent meeting with UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum in Manila and highlighted the importance of sustained high-level contacts.\u201d
\nDar and Marriott also \u201cdiscussed key areas of mutual interest and ways to further strengthen bilateral cooperation.\u201d
\nFurther, according to MoFA, the two discussed recent regional and international developments, with FM Dar stressing that the Islamabad MoU should be properly implemented, reaffirming that dialogue and diplomacy were the only way forward to address outstanding issues.
\nThe high commissioner also conveyed warm wishes on Pakistan\u2019s Independence Day, MoFA stated.
\nThe meetings came as Islamabad continues to engage with regional and international officials amid the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran, during which Islamabad has emerged as a key mediator.
\nDar meets Chinese ambassador
\nThe foreign minister also met the Ambassador of China Jiang Zaidong, conveying condolences \u201con the tragic death of a Chinese mountaineer following an avalanche incident at Broad Peak in Gilgit-Baltistan.\u201d
\nFM Dar \u201cassured full facilitation for the repatriation of the deceased\u2019s remains.\u201d According to MoFA, Zaidong \u201cappreciated Pakistan\u2019s prompt assistance and support following the incident.\u201d
\nFurther, the officials also exchanged views regarding regional developments and other matters of mutual interest, MoFA said.
\nIt noted that the Chinese ambassador \u201cextended warm congratulations to the people and leadership of Pakistan on the occasion of Independence Day, reaffirming the close and time-tested ties between the two countries.\u201d
\nDar meets Pakistan\u2019s Ambassador-designate to Sweden
\nIn a separate meeting with Pakistan\u2019s Ambassador-designate to Sweden Ahmed Amjad Ali, FM Dar \u201cunderscored the importance of further advancing Pakistan-Sweden economic ties, particularly in the areas of trade, investment, technology, renewable energy, agriculture, education and skills development.\u201d
\nAccording to an X post by MoFA, the foreign minister \u201cdirected the ambassador-designate to actively promote business-to-business linkages, facilitate greater investment and strengthen people-to-people contacts.\u201d
\nHe also highlighted the need for efficient and timely provision of consular services, particularly for Pakistani students and the diaspora, the foreign ministry said.
\nThe meetings came after the signing of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye on August 7. The pact has emerged as a significant development in the regional security landscape, with Islamabad maintaining that the agreement is defensive in nature.
\nIn a phone call with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on August 10, Dar exchanged views on regional and international developments, with particular focus on the evolving situation in the region and efforts to promote peace and stability
\nAccording to MoFA, FM Dar also \u201cshared the contours\u201d of the Makkah pact, underscoring its \u201cobjectives of strengthening strategic cooperation and contributing to regional peace and security\u201d, with FM Araghchi thanking him for sharing the key aspects of the agreement.
\nOn the same day, FM Dar also spoke with his Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, who felicitated Dar over the signing of the Makkah agreement and discussed the regional situation.
\nMeanwhile, on Thursday, the Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide strongly endorsed Pakistan\u2019s diplomatic efforts to mediate between the US and Iran, describing Islamabad\u2019s role as a \u201cservice to the world\u201d.
\nEide, the first Norwegian foreign minister to visit Pakistan in a decade, said Oslo recognised the \u201cmassive task\u201d undertaken by Pakistan in offering Islamabad as a venue and facilitator for talks between Washington and Tehran.
\nThe Norwegian FM said he had also discussed the Makkah pact with Saudi Arabia and T\u00fcrkiye, describing the three countries as states with which Norway enjoyed \u201cvery good and close relations\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Foreign minister stresses implementing Islamabad MoU \u2018in letter and spirit\u2019, exchanges views with Chinese ambassador Islamabad Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday met the United States Charg\u00e9 d\u2019Affaires Natalie Baker and the United Kingdom High Commissioner to Pakistan Jane Marriott, among other dignitaries, discussing regional developments. According to the Ministry of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-561904","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-top-news"],"yoast_head":"\n