ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has reaffirmed that it remains actively engaged with regional partners to help de-escalate the Strait of Hormuz crisis while reviewing the terms of reference and operational framework of a newly announced Saudi-led multinational maritime coalition aimed at securing key shipping routes in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden.
Addressing the weekly media briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Islamabad was working alongside other friendly countries to support diplomatic efforts and facilitate implementation of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
“Pakistan remains engaged alongside other brotherly states in sincere efforts to resolve the crisis in the Gulf and the Middle East, especially with respect to the stand-off in the Strait of Hormuz,” he said.
The spokesperson noted that different countries were leading different aspects of the diplomatic process, with Oman playing a central role in negotiations over the future management of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
“Pakistan is playing the role. We remain engaged with the parties. Obviously, on certain issues, there are countries that take the lead, and on certain other issues, there are other countries that take the lead,” he added.
According to the Foreign Office, Pakistan continues to work closely with Qatar and other regional partners in a coordinated effort to facilitate dialogue and support the implementation of the Islamabad MoU.
Highlighting the distinction between immediate crisis management and long-term diplomacy, Mr Andrabi said, “You need to understand that the Strait of Hormuz was a stand-off, and in such a stand-off, dialogue was essentially the paradigm of facilitating a settlement.”
He further explained, “Mediation is a more long-term process. The question of mediation comes when you are addressing issues that require persistent deliberations over a period of time, as, for example, the events leading up to the Islamabad MoU, the Pakistan-Qatar Joint Statement and the technical-level talks that it envisages.”
Reiterating Islamabad’s commitment, he said, “Pakistan remains engaged, and, as I said, this is a concerted teamwork and coordinated effort from the brotherly countries, including Pakistan. We value the partnership of our brotherly countries in this regard.”
“We will continue these peace efforts in concert with our brotherly countries and partner countries,” he added.
The spokesperson stressed that Pakistan’s primary focus remained on achieving a political settlement rather than addressing individual manifestations of the crisis.
“We are more engaged with the settlement and less so with terms of the crises. The blockade is one facet or symptom of the crisis. Once the agreement is reached and implemented, these symptoms of the crisis, either blockade or accidental/voluntary attacks on maritime traffic, will obviously take care of themselves. So, therefore, the agreement is important, and this is where our focus is.”
On the Saudi-led maritime security coalition, Mr Andrabi said consultations were underway with the Pakistan Navy and military authorities before any decision on the country’s level of participation.
“Regarding this maritime security arrangement (announced by Saudi Arabia), the process is evolving. We are seeing what the terms of reference will be and how this security arrangement will function,” he said.
“We are in touch with our Naval Headquarters and the military authorities on this issue, and on how these modalities will work out,” he added.
The coalition, announced by Saudi Arabia on July 30, seeks to strengthen maritime security across the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden through intelligence sharing, joint exercises and coordinated security operations.
Responding to a question regarding a proposed international stabilisation force for Gaza, the spokesperson said Pakistan would make a decision only after receiving a formal proposal.
“As regards future peacekeeping, peace-enforcement or peace-making forces in Gaza, I think that question is a bit premature. When a proposal or a proposition to that effect is presented before us, a decision will be taken accordingly.”
