Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar spoke with Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand on Wednesday night.
During the conversation, the Canadian foreign minister commended Pakistan’s constructive role in supporting diplomatic engagement and mediation efforts between the United States and Iran, which helped facilitate the understanding reached between the two parties.
They also discussed the forthcoming engagement between the parties in Bürgenstock, Switzerland on Friday.
Appreciating the positive momentum in Pakistan-Canada relations, they reaffirmed their commitment to expanding cooperation across areas of mutual interest.
Separately, Dar on Thursday received a call from the Foreign Minister of Bahrain, Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani.
The Bahraini FM congratulated DPM/FM on the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Iran, with Pakistan as witness, a DPM’s Office news release said.
He also lauded Pakistan’s constructive mediation role in facilitating the understanding reached between the two sides.
Both leaders felicitated each other on this important milestone and expressed hope that it would contribute to lasting peace and stability in the region.
They reaffirmed the strong brotherly ties between Pakistan and Bahrain and underscored the importance of continued high-level engagement and close cooperation between the two countries.
Moreover, Dar received a call from the Foreign Minister of Türkiye, Hakan Fidan wherein he congratulated Pakistan on the historic signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Iran, and endorsed by Pakistan as the mediator, a DPM’s Office news release said. Both leaders expressed hope that this significant development would contribute to lasting peace, stability, and progress in the region and beyond.
Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday warmly welcomed the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran, describing it as an historic moment for the region and the world. The president, in his message, said that the conflict which began in February inflicted immense suffering upon the peoples of the region and caused severe disruption to global energy supplies, trade and economic stability.
He expressed hope that such a tragedy would never be repeated and that the nations of the region would now devote their energies to development, prosperity and the well-being of their peoples.
The president paid tribute to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and Minister for Interior Mohsin Naqvi for their tireless diplomatic efforts that contributed significantly to bringing the parties to an agreement.
He noted that Pakistan had played a principled, balanced and constructive role throughout the crisis, consistently calling for dialogue, restraint and a peaceful resolution of disputes while maintaining engagement with all parties concerned.
President Zardari also appreciated the leadership of President Donald Trump, Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi for ensuring a diplomatic resolution of the conflict and advancing the cause of peace.
He also acknowledged the valuable support of brotherly nations, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Egypt, as well as the Russian Federation and China, whose efforts and encouragement of dialogue contributed to the pursuit of peace.
The president called upon all parties to implement the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) fully and expedite efforts to reach the final agreement within the stipulated timeframe to ensure lasting peace and progress.
“Heroes are those who have ended the war, not those who are eager to start one,” the president remarked.
He expressed the hope that this MoU that has Islamabad and Pakistan written all over it, would serve as the foundation for a durable and comprehensive peace in the region, enabling nations to focus on economic development, energy cooperation and the advancement of their peoples.
“War brings nothing but destruction and misery. Peace is the only path to progress. Pakistan will continue to stand in solidarity with all brotherly nations of the region in their collective journey towards peace and prosperity,” the president added.