Pakistan Moves to Ease Gulf Crisis Through Diplomacy
News Desk
Islamabad: Pakistan on Thursday intensified its diplomatic outreach to key Gulf partners as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif departed for Saudi Arabia for high-level talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman amid escalating tensions in the Middle East following the conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.
Officials say the visit reflects Islamabad’s growing diplomatic engagement with regional and Gulf partners as the situation threatens broader instability across the Middle East and global energy markets.
According to the Foreign Office, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is accompanying the prime minister on the visit.
The discussions are expected to focus on the rapidly evolving security situation in the region and ways to reduce tensions after the recent escalation that has drawn in several regional actors.
Pakistani leaders have recently been in contact with counterparts across the Middle East and Gulf states as part of Islamabad’s diplomatic efforts to support stability in the region.
Regional Tensions Spread Across Gulf
The crisis intensified after Iran launched retaliatory strikes on American military sites and facilities in several Gulf countries, including United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
Tehran also announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route through which a large portion of the world’s oil supply passes. The development has pushed global oil prices sharply higher, with Iranian officials warning that crude could reach $200 per barrel if tensions persist.
The visit comes days after Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces Syed Asim Munir held talks with Saudi Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman.
The meeting discussed recent Iranian attacks on Saudi territory and broader regional security challenges within the framework of the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement signed between the two countries.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia concluded the landmark Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA) in September last year, under which an attack on one country is treated as aggression against both.
Saudi Oil Facilities Targeted
Saudi Arabia has recently intercepted several drones targeting key oil infrastructure, including the major Shaybah oil field.
According to Saudi defence officials, two drones headed toward the facility were intercepted and destroyed on Thursday, following similar attempted attacks earlier in the week.
The Shaybah field is one of the kingdom’s important oil production sites, and attacks on such infrastructure have raised fears of disruptions to global energy supplies.
Strong Support for Riyadh
Pakistan has reaffirmed its long-standing strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia during the crisis.
Prime Minister’s spokesperson for foreign media Mosharraf Zaidi recently told Bloomberg TV that Islamabad would stand by Riyadh under all circumstances.
He noted that the two countries have historically maintained close security and political ties, built on mutual support during regional challenges.
Iran Maintains Retaliatory Posture
Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has expressed regret over attacks affecting regional countries but reiterated that Iran will continue targeting locations used to launch strikes against its territory.
The statement underscores the risk that the conflict could further expand if military operations continue across the region.
Observers say Pakistan’s diplomatic engagement with Gulf states could play a role in encouraging dialogue and de-escalation as tensions threaten to destabilize the wider Middle East.
With oil markets under pressure and regional security concerns mounting, diplomatic initiatives are expected to intensify in the coming days as countries seek to prevent the conflict from widening further.
