EU foreign policy chief voices concern over ceasefire violations in call with Dar

European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas on Sunday expressed “serious concerns” over recent ceasefire violations during a telephone conversation with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, the Foreign Office said. 

The ceasefire has come under increasing strain in recent days, with both Iran and the United States accusing each other of violating the interim agreement signed less than two weeks ago to end their four-month conflict.

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Iran launched missiles and drones at US military sites in Kuwait and Bahrain on Sunday, while the United States said it had carried out fresh strikes on Iran. Separately, Israel said it had targeted Iran-backed Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon, adding to concerns over the stability of the truce.

According to the FO, Kallas stressed that “channels of communication must remain open” as the two leaders reviewed the rapidly evolving regional situation. The FO added that Kallas also appreciated “Pakistan’s sincere efforts culminating in the signing of the Islamabad MoU”.

Dar briefed the EU foreign policy chief on Pakistan’s continuing diplomatic engagement aimed at promoting regional peace. He apprised Kallas of “Pakistan’s continued diplomatic efforts towards a comprehensive framework for peace and stability in the Middle East.”

Dar also emphasised, “the necessity for all parties to abide by the ceasefire agreement.” The Foreign Office said both sides agreed to “maintain close contact” as the regional situation continues to evolve.

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Bahrain Foreign Minister 

Also on Sunday, Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani said that he will visit Pakistan in the near future to personally thank the country’s leadership for its role in facilitating the “Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)” and the ceasefire, the Foreign Office (FO) said.

In a separate phone call, Al Zayani conveyed the message during a telephone conversation with FM Ishaq Dar. 

The Bahraini foreign minister congratulated Dar on the signing of the Islamabad MoU and praised Pakistan’s role in facilitating the understanding.

He “appreciated Pakistan’s constructive role in facilitating the understanding” and expressed hope that the agreement “would contribute to lasting peace and stability in the region,” the Foreign Office said.

Al Zayani also said he would visit Pakistan “in the near future in order to personally thank the prime minister, DPM/FM and CDF for their great efforts to achieve the ceasefire”.

The two foreign ministers also discussed the evolving regional situation following the signing of the Islamabad MoU. Dar thanked his Bahraini counterpart “for his kind sentiments” and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to diplomacy.

He reiterated Pakistan’s resolve “to promote dialogue and diplomacy for achieving peace and stability in the region and beyond,” according to the Foreign Office.

The call comes a week after the first round of four-party talks involving Iran and the US, with mediation by Qatar and Pakistan, concluded in Switzerland, marking the first formal follow-up engagement since the signing of the agreement earlier this week.

On June 18, PM Shehbaz signed the ‘Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding’ as a mediator, formalising the major diplomatic breakthrough between the US and Iran. Israel, left out of the peace talks, has distanced itself from the US-Iran accord and kept up fighting against Hezbollah in Lebanon, also raising questions about whether ​the agreement would hold.

The US and Israel launched the war on Iran ⁠on February 28, assassinating Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and military leaders on the first day. It quickly spiralled into a regional conflict that has killed more than 7,000 people, mostly in Iran and Lebanon; driven up energy prices; renewed inflationary pressures and sparked concerns about a ​major food supply crisis in developing countries.