Deepening their diplomatic engagement ahead of the eighth session of the Pakistan-Oman Joint Ministerial Commission, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, hosted Oman’s Foreign Minister, Badr Albusaidi, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad for extensive bilateral talks.
The high-level meeting provided a platform for both delegations to review the current state of bilateral relations and address pressing regional matters. Reaffirming the enduring ties of friendship between Islamabad and Muscat, the two ministers explored concrete avenues to expand cooperation across multiple sectors, including trade, investment, and people-to-people connections.
A central focus of the discussions was regional security and stability. Speaking during a joint press conference following their talks, Ishaq Dar highlighted that the two sides exchanged detailed views on the security of key strategic shipping lanes, specifically the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandab strait. Emphasizing the absolute necessity of unhindered freedom of navigation in these vital maritime corridors, Dar noted that maintaining a free flow of commercial shipping is indispensable to safeguarding regional and global energy and food security.
The dialogue also extended to broader geopolitical developments in the Middle East and South Asia. The ministers reviewed the situations in Yemen and Saudi Arabia, while dedicating significant attention to the ongoing crisis in Palestine. During the discussions, the Pakistani side strongly condemned the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Stressing the urgency of de-escalation, both leaders called for maximum restraint from all parties involved and urged a swift return to diplomatic dialogue. Dar reiterated that Islamabad remains fully committed to supporting ongoing international and regional efforts aimed at fostering lasting peace, security, and stability throughout the region.
Neda Sajjadi - Neda Sajjadi
