ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s foreign office on Friday declined to confirm media reports that army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir could visit Iran this week as part of Islamabad’s mediation efforts between Tehran and Washington, as Pakistan pushes ahead with diplomacy aimed at ending the months-long US-Iran conflict.
Pakistan’s military leadership has played an increasingly visible role in the diplomatic effort since the conflict erupted in February following joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran. Munir visited Tehran in April for talks with senior Iranian officials, while Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has made at least two trips to the Iranian capital in recent weeks as Islamabad positions itself as an intermediary between Tehran and Washington.
The conflict and disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic maritime corridor that carries roughly one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies, have pushed energy prices higher and raised fears of wider regional instability and economic fallout.
When asked directly about reports of a possible Iran visit by Munir to Tehran this week, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said he could “neither confirm nor deny it.”
Andrabi also rejected suggestions that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar had been sidelined from the diplomatic process in favor of Naqvi, considered a close ally of Pakistan’s military leadership.
“You used the word sideline. I would very categorically reject that,” Andrabi told reporters during a weekly briefing in Islamabad.
“Pakistan’s peace efforts including the visit of the Interior Minister should not be seen through the narrow prism of departmental divisions. Pakistan is united in this cause.”
He said the peace initiative was “a matter of national importance” involving coordinated efforts by the foreign ministry, interior ministry and military leadership under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s direction.
Pakistan has increasingly coordinated its diplomatic efforts with China, which has emerged as a key backer of Islamabad’s mediation initiative. Beijing and Islamabad jointly promoted a five-point peace proposal calling for a ceasefire, dialogue, protection of civilian and nuclear facilities, safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and adherence to the United Nations Charter.
Sharif is scheduled to visit China from May 23-26, where discussions are expected to focus on regional security, economic cooperation and the next phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Beijing’s flagship infrastructure project in Pakistan under the Belt and Road Initiative.
“Pakistan and China have been in close coordination on the standoff in the Middle East and the Gulf,” Andrabi said.
“Yes, this issue [US-Iran peace process] will be discussed during the prime minister’s visit,” he added, saying Beijing had supported Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the crisis.
The comments came as Naqvi held another round of talks in Tehran this week with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to discuss proposals aimed at ending the conflict, according to Iranian media reports.
The semi-official Tasnim and ISNA news agencies reported that Naqvi was facilitating communication efforts intended to establish a framework for ending the war and resolving disputes between Tehran and Washington.
Andrabi declined to provide details of the negotiations between Tehran and Washington, which remain deadlocked six weeks after an April 8 ceasefire over issues including Iran’s uranium stockpile, sanctions relief and shipping access through the Strait of Hormuz.
“It is the inherent ingredient of our mandate that we remain quiet on the individual positions and the process and also not ascribe any adjective to the process, fast, slow, medium,” the FO spokesman said.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned on Thursday there could be no agreement if Iran imposed tolls or restrictions on international shipping through the strait.
“There’s some good signs,” Rubio told reporters. “I don’t want to be overly optimistic ... So, let’s see what happens over the next few days.”
