ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has departed for an official visit to China at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, the Foreign Office said Tuesday.
“Both leaders will review bilateral ties and discuss regional and global issues of mutual interest,” the statement said.
An earlier foreign office statement stated that the visit will provide an opportunity for both sides to hold in-depth discussions on regional developments, as well as bilateral and global issues of mutual interest.
‘Pakistan ready to host US-Iran talks’
This is Dar’s second trip to Beijing this year and comes shortly after he chaired a quadrilateral meeting with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Egypt to explore ways to end the ongoing Middle East conflict.
The crisis began late last month following joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran, which were followed by retaliatory actions. The situation has since heightened tensions across the Gulf and affected global energy markets, contributing to rising oil prices and inflation.
Dar said the participating foreign ministers expressed full support for the possibility of US-Iran talks being held in Islamabad and agreed to establish a committee of senior officials to work out the next steps.
He emphasized that dialogue and diplomacy remain the only practical path to avoid further conflict and ensure regional peace.
In recent days, Dar and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have also held several discussions with Iranian leaders, including President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, while maintaining coordination with the United States.
Dar added that Pakistan welcomes the trust shown by both Iran and the US and would be honored to host and facilitate meaningful talks between the two sides in the near future.
'Diplomacy a gradual process'
Echoing this stance, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Rizwan Saeed Sheikh said diplomacy takes time but remains essential to easing tensions.
“Diplomacy is a gradual process. It takes patience, but we hope to move things forward faster in the interest of the broader region,” he said in an interview with Fox News, expressing optimism about de-escalation efforts.
