Pakistan vows to 'strive for dialogue' despite US-Iran escalation

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi told reporters in Islamabad on Wednesday that Pakistan would continue pushing for dialogue between Washington and Tehran despite the latest surge in hostilities. "Despite recent escalations, we remain hopeful and continue to strive for dialogue and diplomacy," he said, emphasizing that Islamabad maintains close contact with both capitals.

The statement came hours after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced it had carried out simultaneous attacks on US bases in Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Iraq. The operation was a direct response to an American strike on a residential building in Sirik, southern Iran, that Tehran said killed four people — including a child — one day earlier. The IRGC claimed that Wednesday's strike on Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait killed US personnel and destroyed drones, though Washington has not confirmed casualties.

Diplomatic efforts intensify

Citing recent diplomatic activity, Andrabi noted that Pakistan's army chief Field Marshall Asim Munir had traveled to Tehran along with senior officials from Qatar and Oman to advance negotiations. "We underscored that the understanding reached between the US and Iran under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding offers the most viable pathway toward lasting peace and stability in the region," he added. These efforts focus particularly on securing the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which has been blocked since hostilities began.

Pakistan has served as the primary mediator between the two adversaries since the war began on Feb. 28, maintaining communication channels with both sides throughout the eight-week conflict. The Strait of Hormuz — a vital chokepoint for global energy shipments — remains closed, driving up international oil prices and threatening maritime security across the Gulf region. More than 3,300 people have been killed in Iran since the fighting started, according to previous statements from both capitals.