Pakistan Engages with Oman, Saudi and Other Partner Nations in Efforts to Resolve Strait of Hormuz Stand‑off.

Pakistan’s Foreign Office confirmed that Islamabad remains involved in diplomatic activities aimed at defusing the stand‑off in the Strait of Hormuz. The office is reviewing the terms of reference of a Saudi‑led multinational maritime coalition that seeks to protect shipping lanes in the Bab al‑Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Oman is currently the leading country in talks with Iran about future navigation management in the Hormuz Strait, a process started after the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding signed between Iran and the United States in June. The talks have moved from high‑level discussions to technical consultations on shipping routes, services and cost sharing. Iranian officials reported that progress had been made on the route’s geographic coordinates, though differences remain over operational control and charges. Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andriabi said that Pakistan’s contribution lies in coordinated efforts with brotherly states, rather than leading on specific issues. He explained that in a crisis, dialogue is the main tool to reach a settlement. The Saudi‑led coalition, announced on July 30 by Saudi Arabia, aligns 43 military representatives from around the world. Pakistan is a founding endorser of the initiative, but the Foreign Office is still assessing how the coalition will function before deciding on participation. Meanwhile, Islamabad will decide to join a proposed International Stabilisation Force for Gaza only after receiving a formal proposal. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is traveling to Saudi Arabia for a three‑day official visit, and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir is expected to join him. "We are more engaged with the settlement and less so with terms of the crises," Andriabi said, emphasising that once an agreement is reached, the symptoms of conflict such as blockades and attacks on shipping will resolve themselves.