ISLAMABAD – Pakistan stepped up its diplomatic efforts at Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on Friday, with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar holding key meetings with the foreign ministers of Iran and China while declaring that Islamabad remains committed to peace through dialogue amid rising regional tensions.
On the sidelines of SCO summit, FM Ishaq Dar met Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, where both sides reaffirmed the deep-rooted and longstanding ties between Pakistan and Iran. The two leaders reviewed bilateral relations, exchanged views on the rapidly evolving regional situation, and discussed issues of mutual interest.
نائب وزیراعظم و وزیر خارجہ اسحاق ڈار نے ایرانی وزیر خارجہ عباس عراقچی سے گفتگو کے دوران علاقائی کشیدگی پر تشویش کا اظہار کرتے ہوئے مذاکرات، عدم تشدد اور تناؤ میں کمی کی ضرورت پر زور دیا۔ 🕊️#PakistanIran #SCO #MohammadIshaqDar #Iran @GovtofPakistan pic.twitter.com/92x4TGDzeA
— UrduKhabar (@UrduKhabar5) July 24, 2026
Araghchi praised Pakistan’s continued diplomatic support and commended Islamabad’s constructive efforts to promote peace and stability across the region, according to Pakistan’s Foreign Office.
In his address to the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers, Ishaq Dar said Pakistan actively attempted to mediate between Iran and the United States in an effort to help secure a peace agreement. He called the initiative as evidence of Pakistan’s positive and responsible role in advancing regional peace through diplomacy.
“Pakistan seeks peace and stability in the region, and disputes can only be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy,” Dar told the gathering, stressing that negotiations—not confrontation—remain the only sustainable path to resolving conflicts.
Turning to security concerns, the deputy prime minister voiced alarm over the continued use of Afghan territory for attacks against Pakistan. He said Islamabad remains deeply concerned by incidents involving Afghan nationals in terrorist attacks inside Pakistan, warning that cross-border terrorism continues to pose a serious threat to regional stability.
On the diplomatic front, Ishaq Dar also held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the SCO meeting. The two leaders reviewed the state of Pakistan-China relations, discussed key regional developments, and explored avenues for enhanced multilateral cooperation.
During the meeting, Wang Yi extended his best wishes to Pakistan ahead of its 2027 Chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, reaffirming Beijing’s support for Islamabad’s growing role within the regional bloc.
Dar urges diplomacy in call with Araghchi as US-Iran conflict escalates
