Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held a telephone conversation with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, on Friday night, discussing regional developments and bilateral cooperation, the Foreign Office confirmed on Saturday.
Commitment to Regional Peace
During the call, Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to playing a constructive role in promoting lasting peace and stability in the region and beyond, according to an official statement. The Iranian foreign minister appreciated Pakistan’s continued support for efforts aimed at advancing the US-Iran peace process.
Repatriation of Iranian Nationals
Araghchi also thanked Islamabad for facilitating the safe and smooth repatriation of Iranian crew members and fishermen to their homeland. The conversation came a day after Dar announced that Pakistan had facilitated the safe arrival in Karachi of 22 Iranian crew members who were recently interdicted by US authorities.
In a post on X on Friday, the deputy prime minister said the crew members of the vessel Lenore/Davina had reached Karachi safely and that arrangements were being finalised in coordination with Iranian diplomatic missions to ensure their early return to Iran. Dar noted that Pakistan had remained in close contact with both US and Iranian authorities throughout the repatriation process.
Fourth Batch of Returnees
He highlighted that the latest group was the fourth batch of Iranian nationals whose return had been facilitated by Pakistan over the past two months, bringing the total number of repatriated Iranian crew members and fishermen to more than 70. Dar thanked the Iranian leadership for its confidence in Pakistan and commended officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other institutions for ensuring the safe and smooth repatriation of the Iranian nationals.
Continued Dialogue
Both leaders agreed to remain in close contact on matters of mutual interest, the Foreign Office added. The telephone conversation underscores the ongoing diplomatic engagement between Pakistan and Iran amid regional challenges.
