Pakistan calls for international cooperation for Middle East peace

Dhaka — Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has invited the international community to cooperate for “lasting peace” in the Middle East, as Islamabad continues to position itself as a mediator in regional diplomacy.

The statement was made during a meeting between PM Sharif and European Union Chief Foreign Policy Officer Kaja Kallas in Islamabad.

Sharif told Kallas that Pakistan values the EU’s support for peace efforts in the Gulf region and highlighted the role played by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir in advancing these initiatives.

“He particularly emphasised the need for the international community, including the European Union, to work together to ensure lasting peace in the region,” according to a statement released by the Pakistani Prime Minister’s Office on Tuesday.

Kallas praised Pakistan’s contribution to regional stability and said Brussels wishes to deepen strategic engagement with Islamabad.

“Pakistan is a major regional power and an important partner for the European Union,” the statement quoted her as saying.

In an interview with Pakistani television station Geo TV, Kallas also commended Islamabad’s diplomatic efforts, saying Pakistan has played an important role in facilitating contacts between the United States and Iran and remains a key voice on regional security issues.

In a post on X, Kallas stated she had spoken with Sharif and Dar about strengthening EU-Pakistan relations and also met Asim Munir at military headquarters in Rawalpindi.

“I commend Pakistan for its key role in facilitating US-Iran talks,” she wrote.

Pakistan’s diplomatic profile has increased in recent months amid efforts to facilitate dialogue between Washington and Tehran, as well as support broader de-escalation initiatives in the Gulf.

Islamabad is seeking to leverage its relationships across the region to promote negotiations and reduce tensions.