In a major diplomatic move aimed at easing tensions in the Middle East, Pakistan and China on Tuesday jointly announced a five-point initiative calling for peace, stability, and immediate dialogue amid the escalating US-Israeli conflict with Iran, according to Dawn News.
The announcement came during Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s one-day official visit to Beijing, where he held detailed talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the worsening regional crisis.
According to Pakistan’s Foreign Office, both countries stressed the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire and warned against the conflict spreading further across the Gulf and the wider Middle East. They also emphasized that humanitarian aid must be allowed to reach all war-affected areas without delay.
A central point of the initiative was the call for peace talks to begin as soon as possible. Pakistan and China underlined that the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national independence of Iran and the Gulf states must be respected.
“Dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable path to resolving the crisis,” the statement said, urging all sides to avoid the use or threat of force during negotiations.
The two countries also expressed serious concern over attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure. They called on all parties to strictly follow international humanitarian law and immediately halt strikes on non-military targets, including energy plants, desalination facilities, power stations, and peaceful nuclear sites.
Another major concern raised was the security of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical shipping routes for oil and goods. Pakistan and China urged the safe passage of commercial and civilian vessels and called for normal maritime traffic to be restored as soon as possible.
The final point of the initiative focused on strengthening the role of the United Nations and promoting true multilateral diplomacy to build a lasting peace framework based on international law and the UN Charter.
Earlier, China had reaffirmed its intention to strengthen strategic coordination with Pakistan over the Iran crisis. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning described both nations as “all-weather strategic partners.”
Meanwhile, Iran’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, welcomed Islamabad’s diplomatic efforts and praised Pakistan’s “proactive initiatives” to restore peace and stability in the region.
Pakistan has increasingly positioned itself as a mediator, with recent talks involving Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Egypt, and growing indications that Islamabad may soon host direct or indirect US-Iran negotiations. __Photo Courtesy X
