Pakistan-China propose five-point initiative for Gulf, Middle East stability
Pakistan and China on Tuesday put forward a five-point initiative to assess the evolving situation in the Gulf and the broader Middle East, as Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing, the Foreign Office said.
Ishaq Dar is on a one-day official visit to China at the invitation of Wang, during which the two sides reviewed bilateral ties and exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual concern.
This marks Dar’s second visit to Beijing this year and comes shortly after he chaired a quadrilateral meeting involving the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Egypt to explore ways to end the ongoing Middle East conflict.
According to Foreign Office Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China H.E. Mr. Wang Yi and Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar met in Beijing on 31 March 2026 to review the situation in the Gulf and Middle East Region.
Immediate cessation of hostilities
- Immediate Cessation of Hostilities: China and Pakistan call for immediate cessation of hostilities and utmost efforts to prevent the conflict from spreading. Humanitarian assistance must be allowed to all war-affected areas.
Early resumption of dialogue
- Start of peace talks as soon as possible. Sovereignty, territorial integrity, national independence and security of Iran and the Gulf states should be safeguarded. Dialogue and diplomacy is the only viable option to resolve conflicts. China and Pakistan support the relevant parties in initiating talks, with all parties committing to peaceful resolution of disputes, and refraining from the use or the threat of use of force during peace talks.
Protection of civilians and infrastructure
III. Security of nonmilitary targets. The principle of protecting civilians in military conflict should be observed. China and Pakistan call on parties to the conflict to immediately stop attacks on civilians and nonmilitary targets, and fully adhere to International Humanitarian Law (IHL), and stop attacking important infrastructure, including energy, desalination and power facilities, and peaceful nuclear infrastructure, such as nuclear power plants.
Security of maritime routes
- Security of shipping lanes. The Strait of Hormuz, together with its adjacent waters, is an important global shipping route for goods and energy. China and Pakistan call on the parties to protect the security of ships and crew members stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, allow the early and safe passage of civilian and commercial ships, and restore normal passage through the Strait as soon as possible.
Upholding the UN charter
- Primacy of the United Nations Charter. China and Pakistan call for efforts to practice true multilateralism, to jointly strengthen the primacy of the U.N., and to support the conclusion of an agreement for establishing a comprehensive peace framework and realizing lasting peace based on the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter and international law.
Pakistan’s Diplomatic Push
Pakistan’s recent diplomatic efforts come in response to rising tensions following US and Israeli strikes on Iran, along with Iran’s retaliatory actions. These developments have heightened concerns about a wider regional conflict and have also affected global energy markets.
Ishaq Dar stated that participants in the recent quadrilateral meeting supported the idea of holding US-Iran talks in Islamabad. They also agreed to establish a committee of senior officials to determine the framework and details of such discussions.
He emphasized that dialogue remains the most effective path to avoid further escalation and to achieve long-term peace.
In recent days, Dar and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have been in contact with Iranian leadership, including President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, while continuing coordination with the United States.
Dar noted that Pakistan appreciates the confidence shown by both Tehran and Washington and is prepared to play a constructive role in facilitating meaningful talks between them.
‘Diplomacy Is a Gradual Process’
Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, highlighted that diplomacy is crucial, even though it takes time to yield results.
“Diplomatic efforts require patience, but steps are being taken to speed up progress in support of regional stability,” he said in an interview with Fox News, expressing hope regarding ongoing efforts to reduce tensions.
