Islamabad: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar reached out to Singapore for urgent support to ensure the safe return of 11 Pakistanis and 20 Iranians held aboard vessels seized by the United States. The vessels currently sit near Singaporean waters, prompting swift diplomatic action from Islamabad.
Dar Coordinates with Key Players
Dar held a detailed phone conversation with Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and requested assistance for the welfare and speedy repatriation of all those on board. He also spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to maintain close coordination on the matter. Pakistan offered to facilitate the safe return of Iranian nationals through its territory if needed.
Following on from this, Dar thanked Singapore for its cooperation and also noted that Pakistani government officials are still working actively with their US counterparts to solve the situation. The Foreign Office appreciated the favorable response of Singapore while commending Pakistan’s contribution towards regional stability through US-Iran talks.
Recent Success Builds Momentum
This comes after the successful mediation by Pakistan regarding crew members belonging to a ship which was captured in an earlier instance. A minimum of 15 crew members have managed to get to Pakistan via Pakistan as part of confidence-building initiatives. This incident occurred after ships were seized when there were heightened tensions in the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz.
It has been made clear that humanitarian concerns come first in this matter. There is appreciation by both Singapore and Iran on the efforts taken by Pakistan in trying to mediate the matter. This is an area where Pakistan plays an important role as far as regional conflicts are concerned.
The families of those involved are eagerly waiting for good news in regard to their safe passage back home.
