'Clock on diplomacy has not stopped': FO says Pakistan remains actively engaged with Iran, US to resolve conflict

Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said on Thursday that Pakistan remained actively engaged with Iran and the US to “achieve a resolution” of the conflict between the two sides.

“As such the status of talks now is that we remain actively engaged with both sides to achieve a resolution of this issue. The clock on diplomacy has not stopped. We remain hopeful of a negotiated settlement of this issue, and we will continue our sincere efforts for the cause of peace and prosperity in the region and beyond,” he said during a weekly FO briefing.

The conflict, which is now almost two months old, began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. And while hostilities have paused following a Pakistan-brokered two-week ceasefire on April 8 — which has now been extended indefinitely by US President Donald Trump — the world continues to face its consequences.

It has led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas supply used to pass in peacetime, resulting in a global energy crisis.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s civil and military leadership has been engaged in feverish diplomacy, leading the efforts for de-escalation.

When the Andrabi was asked about the matter, he recalled that talks between the US and Iran had begun after Pakistan called for a ceasefire.

“The ceasefire basically opened window for substantive diplomacy, including dialogue between the two sides. We need to acknowledge and underscore the importance of the ceasefire by both parties. It ceased hostilities, attacks, missiles to and from in the Gulf region stopped. Many lives were saved. Damage to infrastructure was averted. So, this paved the way for the talks,” he added, recalling the talks held between the US and Iranian delegations in Islamabad on April 11 and 12.

The negotiations had ended without an agreement, but also without a breakdown.

Andrabi noted that after those talks, “the diplomatic exchanges, channels of communications, remained open. The process of facilitation of talks continued”.

“As such the status of talks now is that we remain actively engaged with both sides to achieve a resolution of this issue. The clock on diplomacy has not stopped. We remain hopeful of a negotiated settlement of this issue, and we will continue our sincere efforts for the cause of peace and prosperity in the region and beyond,” he added.

The FO spokesperson also referred to the recent visits by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to Pakistan, saying that he held important discussions in both legs of his visit – before leaving for Oman and then returning from Oman.

“So, the status is that the clock on diplomacy is ticking, functioning, and ongoing.”

In response to a question that whether Pakistan had presented new proposals for conflict resolution to both sides, Andrabi said“: “I’ll not talk on any specifics, but I can say that the proposals old, new, not so new, not so old, are on the table. We understand that the main interlocutors, the parties to the conflict, are deliberating on these issues, in depth i.e. internal deliberations.

“There was an internal meeting in the United States on this earlier part of the weekend. News reports came out of it. I believe similar consultations are taking place in Tehran, also within Iran. We hope that peace will prevail. We hope for stable relations between Iran and the United States.”

Answering another question about reports of a new proposal, he said, “Pakistan is actively engaged with both sides to achieve resolution of this issue. The facilitation process is ongoing. Obviously, the momentum is generated as and when required by the relevant parties, when we receive a proposal or a counter proposal. So, let me assure you – our diplomacy and our peace efforts are continuing.”

In response to another query on the matter, he said, “I do not speak on specifics. There was talk of an x number of proposals from Iran and then an x number of proposals from the US. We did not discuss any such proposal in the spirit of trust that is reposed on us by both parties to uphold the confidentiality and secrecy.

“It is important that we maintain that confidentiality. I’m not aware of what new proposal are you referring to, but I can assure you that anything that passes through the conduit of diplomatic channels in Pakistan is faithfully communicated to the other side.”

The FO spokesperson also mentioned that, earlier in the briefing, he had referred to at least three telephone conversation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

“More than five telephone conversations of Foreign Minister Araghchi, with our Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar have taken place in the last fortnight. This is in addition to the visits of the foreign minister of Iran to Islamabad. So, the proposals, new and old are all on the table,” he added.

Asked about Trump’s statement that negotiations with Iran would now continue over phone to avoid long-distance travel, he said Pakistan would welcome that development.

“In a sense, if the two parties can engage in real time direct conversation that could ease the sticking points, this would be a positive development”, he said, adding that Pakistan’s role of facilitation would continue. “We would welcome direct negotiations in a way that helps settle the situation. We would not resent such kind of a direct telephone exchange. In fact, we very much encourage that.”

Hijacking in Somalia

He also said that Pakistan was in contact with the Somali government over the hostage crisis involving Pakistani sailors aboard a hijacked oil tanker.

Last week, armed pirates hijacked the oil tanker near the Somali coast and took 11 Pakistani crew members and the Indonesian captain of the vessel hostage.

“The oil tanker, name Honor 25 was hijacked by the pirates near the southeast coast of Somalia on April 21. This vessel was carrying oil to the Somali region, the region called Puntland. It had 17 crew members, including 10 Pakistanis.

“Our Embassy in Djibouti, which is accredited to Somalia, approached the authorities in Somalia, including their foreign office, and we learned that the vessel was anchored in the coast of EYL in the Puntland region,” Andrabi detailed.

He further stated that the Puntland region was a semi-autonomous part of Somalia.

“We consider it as part of the brotherly nation of Somalia. MT Honor 25, we understand, is owned by a businessman who is based in Puntland. So, I think the positive side of this story or the silver lining is that the ship is where it belongs to,” he said.

Andrabi added that the Somalian foreign ministry had been very cooperative on the matter and “they have sent us in writing that they are closely monitoring the situation, and they have assured us that any update or information received regarding the status of the vessels and safety of the crew member will be shared”.

“They are trying their best to ensure that the safety and well-being of our detained Pakistanis and all crew members are taken care of. They are in touch with the pirates and authorities in the Puntland region.

“Based on this discussion with the Somali Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we have fair reason to believe that our crew members are safe and secure, and the pirates and the owner of the ship, who is a local person, are in contact.”

He also noted that piracy in the region has continued for “quite a while”.

“There is an information centre called the JMIC, which is an information centre of the coalition of countries which are conducting anti-piracy operations. These are the coalition of the naval forces. The Pakistan Navy has also participated in some of the counter narcotics action, maybe in some anti-piracy actions as well, under the Combined Task Force 150 and Combined Task Force 151 – coalition of naval forces. In fact, the Pakistan Navy has, at time, commanded CTF 150 but CTF 150 mandate, I understand, is more towards counter narcotics than counter piracy,” he said.

The FO spokesperson added that the Pakistani embassy “is maintaining close liaison with the authorities and international stakeholders, and is closely monitoring developments in the region. Our two priorities are safety of Pakistani nationals and their well-being and ensuring their safe and early return and repatriation”.

Hijackings off Somalia have fuelled concerns about a resurgence of Indian Ocean raids by opportunistic pirates. Pirate attacks off the Somali coast peaked in 2011 — with gunmen launching attacks as far as 3,655km from the Somali coast.

Repatriations from Cambodia

In an earlier statement, the FO had said Cambodian authorities agreed on the early repatriation of 54 Pakistanis arrested following the raid on a “scamming compound”.

The statement had come after reports emerged that more than 200 Pakistanis were in the custody of Cambodian police in overcrowded facilities and facing a lack of basic facilities.

“As a result of the embassy’s efforts, the host authorities have agreed to the early repatriation of 54 Pakistani nationals detained in Siem Reap province. These individuals were arrested following a raid on a scamming compound,” it had said.

On Thursday, Andrabi said following a raid on a “scamming compound” in Cambodia, the total number of Pakistani nationals detained in the country has risen to 84, including 76 men and eight women.

He added that “all Pakistani citizens are safe and that Cambodian authorities have assured full cooperation. The Pakistani Embassy has been granted consular access to the detainees”.

“Deputy Head of Mission Bilal Mohsin met the detained Pakistanis, and the Cambodian authorities are providing them with food and medical facilities,” added the FO spokesperson.

He said most of the Pakistanis had travelled to Cambodia after being lured by fake job offers. Some were found working illegally after entering on tourist visas, while others had overstayed their permitted duration.

The spokesperson added that Cambodian authorities are considering waiving fines and that the return of Pakistani nationals is expected after the completion of legal proceedings, while urging citizens to remain cautious of “fraudulent” overseas job schemes.