Pak FM Ishaq Dar urges 'uninterrupted' energy supplies, safe passage of ships in call with Iranian counterpart

Islamabad: Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in a call with his Iranian counterpart on Saturday urged "uninterrupted energy supplies" and the "safe and expeditious passage of ships", amid concerns about disruption of crucial waterways in West Asia.

Dar, also deputy prime minister, held a telephonic conversation with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and discussed the latest regional developments, according to a statement by the Foreign Office (FO) on X.

Dar "stressed the importance of uninterrupted energy supplies and the safe and expeditious passage of ships, particularly given their implications for developing countries and global supply chains".


He underscored that "dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable means to ensure peace and stability in the region", the statement added.

The two agreed to maintain close cooperation and meet in New York on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly session next week, according to the foreign office.

The development came amid concerns about the safety of oil supply lines due to the deteriorating situation in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb, and uncertainty regarding the US-Iran war.

The Strait of Hormuz links the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, and Bab al-Mandeb connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.