ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in a phone call with his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan discussed the Pakistan‑China five‑point initiative aimed at de‑escalating Middle East tensions sparked by the US‑Israeli war on Iran, the foreign office said on Friday.
The development follows a proposal put forward by Beijing and Islamabad during Dar’s visit to China, calling for an immediate ceasefire, the initiation of peace talks, protection of civilian and commercial infrastructure including shipping lanes and adherence to the United Nations Charter.
The plan came out after Islamabad hosted quadrilateral talks with regional powers including Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Egypt to defuse Middle East tensions.
The war that began on Feb. 28 with coordinated US‑Israeli strikes and subsequent Iranian retaliation has roiled global energy markets after Tehran effectively halted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial conduit for about a fifth of the world’s oil trade.
“The two leaders exchanged views on the latest developments in the regional situation, emphasizing the urgent need for de-escalation and dialogue,” the foreign office said in a statement.
“The Pak-China Five-Point Initiative for peace in the Gulf and Middle East was also discussed.”
Both ministers also reaffirmed the strong, fraternal ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and agreed to maintain close contact, it added.
The phone call comes at a time when the spillover of the conflict in the region has complicated diplomatic efforts aimed at calming the situation.
Last month, Pakistan’s Foreign Office said Islamabad wanted to act as a “bridge builder” to help ease rising tensions in the Middle East.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a landmark defense pact in September last year, under which any aggression against one country would be considered an attack on both.
The US–Israeli war on Iran is set to enter its fifth week on Apr. 4, with US President Donald Trump promising a quick end to his country’s military campaign without specifying a clear timeline.
