Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Oman’s Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi discussed regional tensions and ways to deepen cooperation on Wednesday, at the eighth session of the Pakistan-Oman Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) in Islamabad.
Dar said the two had discussed global issues in detail in a restricted meeting, including the US-Iran war, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb, and Gaza, Dawn reported. They also discussed Jammu and Kashmir and other pressing regional issues.
“No long gaps”
Dar praised Albusaidi’s work for peace in the Middle East. “I personally greatly admire your efforts. I know how much hard work you have put in,” he said.
“There should not be any long gaps between bilateral engagements,” Dar said, pointing to potential in trade, economic activity and investment. He said he had promised to visit Oman in 2027 for the next session of the commission.
He noted that the two countries’ diplomatic relations had completed 55 years, but their ties went back “centuries”, with a shared history of “love and affection”, particularly in relation to Balochistan and Gwadar.
The war’s cost at home
On the Houthis and Saudi Arabia, Dar said the two sides shared similar views on resolving regional issues. He said the impact of regional tensions was being felt in Pakistan, where energy supply chains had been disrupted and fuel prices had skyrocketed, and the “common man could not afford the resulting burden”.
Oman praises Pakistan’s role
Albusaidi commended Pakistan’s role in supporting dialogue in the region. “Your efforts to encourage engagement, understanding, respect and recognition are commendable, and I salute you for all your efforts,” he said, adding that Oman greatly appreciated Pakistan’s role in providing space for dialogue between Iran and the US.
“I am delighted to be here with my delegation in Islamabad this morning, in this very warm, friendly and brotherly country, Pakistan, with which… we share bonds of history, culture, tradition and unity,” he said.
Where the two sides see potential
- Economy: trade, logistics, port connectivity, energy and food security, Albusaidi said
- People: tourism, academic and technology cooperation and more regular exchanges
- Mechanisms: besides the JMC, the two countries have a business council and political consultations between their foreign ministers
- Earlier agenda: the Foreign Office said the commission would cover trade, investment, industry, agriculture, finance, oil and gas, labour, security, defence, climate change, civil aviation, education, media and culture
“The potential exists, and our task is to remove any obstacles and create the conditions that allow businesses to thrive so that we can fully benefit from this potential,” Albusaidi said. “The more we do, the more we can deliver on the promise and the aspiration of our leaderships and our people.”
Earlier meeting
Before the session, the two ministers held a bilateral meeting in which they reaffirmed their close, fraternal ties and stressed the importance of sustained high-level contact, particularly on trade, investment and people-to-people links, the Foreign Office said. “The two sides also exchanged views on regional developments and emphasised the importance of dialogue and diplomacy in advancing lasting peace and stability,” it said.
Why it matters
Oman’s open praise for Pakistan’s role between Iran and the US shows the weight Islamabad’s diplomacy now carries, and both sides have committed to meeting more often, with the next session due in Oman in 2027. Read our report on the UN chief’s visit to Pakistan over Iran mediation.
This article draws on reporting by Dawn, Geo News and the Foreign Office.
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