LAHORE: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday said Pakistan’s international standing as a peacemaker and regional security partner had strengthened following its mediation between the United States and Iran.
Addressing a press conference in Lahore after the 983rd annual Ghusl ceremony of Hazrat Ali bin Usman Hajveri (Data Ganj Bakhsh), Dar said Pakistan had successfully facilitated direct talks between the United States and Iran for the first time in 47 years, resulting in the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
He said Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts had transformed the country’s global image from one of alleged isolation to that of a constructive player in international peace and conflict resolution.
According to Dar, the country’s diplomatic engagement from February 28 to June 25 helped bridge differences between Washington and Tehran, leading to high-level technical talks in Switzerland on issues including Iran’s nuclear programme, economic sanctions and regional stability.
The foreign minister said Pakistan’s role had earned recognition from international partners, including the United States, which now viewed the country as a regional “net security provider.”
He said the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping and the subsequent stabilisation of global energy prices were among the tangible outcomes of the diplomatic initiative.
Highlighting Pakistan’s defence capabilities, Dar said the country remained a responsible nuclear power and credited Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for strengthening national security through close civil-military coordination.
He also acknowledged the contributions of former prime ministers Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif in developing and maintaining Pakistan’s nuclear deterrent.
Warning against external threats, Dar said Pakistan possessed the capability to defend its sovereignty against any aggression.
Turning to the economy, the deputy prime minister said the government had succeeded in stabilising the country’s economic situation after inheriting major financial challenges.
He said the government had placed the economy back on the path of recovery and urged the nation to remain united while working towards making Pakistan economically stronger.
Dar also congratulated the nation on behalf of the president, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and PML-N President Nawaz Sharif, saying Pakistan’s growing international recognition was a matter of national pride.
