ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Pakistan made every possible diplomatic effort to ease tensions between Iran and the United States and keep negotiations alive despite repeated setbacks, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has said.
He also praised Qatar for consistently prioritising dialogue and supporting diplomatic initiatives to reduce regional tensions.
Addressing the Global Security Forum in Doha, Naqvi highlighted the role of Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir in opening channels of communication between Tehran and Washington. He said Pakistan’s diplomatic engagement aimed to prevent further escalation and avert a wider conflict in the region.
Diplomatic efforts
Naqvi said Pakistan remained committed to resolving disputes through negotiations and diplomacy, even when tensions threatened to derail discussions. He credited Asim Munir with playing a significant role in establishing contacts with international leaders and creating opportunities for dialogue between the two sides.
The interior minister said he had accompanied the field marshal on visits to Iran and participated in meetings with senior Iranian officials. These engagements, he added, formed part of Pakistan’s efforts to maintain communication and create conditions conducive to negotiations.
According to Naqvi, the diplomatic process encountered several moments of extreme tension. However, Pakistan continued its engagement and ensured that communication channels remained open.
He said the central objective was to prevent the conflict from spreading and protect the region from a potentially devastating escalation.
Naqvi also referred to Pakistan’s hosting of negotiations in Islamabad in April. He said the United States and Iran signed an Islamabad memorandum of understanding in June, highlighting the diplomatic efforts undertaken to bring the two sides closer.
He further recalled a 16-hour negotiating process in Switzerland involving Pakistani and Qatari leaders, underscoring the sustained engagement between the two countries over efforts to address the dispute.
Qatar's role
Praising Doha’s diplomatic approach, Naqvi said Pakistan valued Qatar’s contribution to efforts to resolve the Iran-US conflict. He noted that Qatar had consistently favoured continuing negotiations and supported diplomatic initiatives intended to reduce tensions across the region.
He stressed that Pakistan and its partners were not seeking credit for diplomatic achievements. Instead, their priority was to prevent further confrontation and protect innocent lives.
Naqvi said Pakistan wanted a future in which disagreements could be resolved through dialogue before they developed into wars, adding that diplomatic channels must remain open even during periods of heightened tension.
The minister also highlighted the Makkah joint defence agreement involving Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, describing it as significant for regional security.
He said the agreement was defensive in nature and intended to strengthen security and defence cooperation rather than promote military action.
Naqvi also called for stronger cooperation against terrorism, emphasising the need to improve intelligence-sharing arrangements and make joint efforts more effective.
He reiterated that sustained dialogue, diplomatic engagement and regional cooperation were essential to achieving lasting peace, warning against allowing channels of communication to close during periods of crisis.