Pakistan has urged Iran to restrain Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, the Financial Times reported on Friday. The appeal was made as Islamabad prepares a fresh round of diplomatic engagement on regional security.
According to the Financial Times, the request was conveyed during a phone call between Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi. Dawn reported that Dar stressed the importance of uninterrupted energy supplies during the conversation.
The Express Tribune reported that Pakistan is planning a new diplomatic push, without giving further details. Al Arabiya reported that Araghchi also discussed regional developments with Pakistan's army chief, and that the contacts came as talks between the United States and Iran have stalled. CGTN reported that the two foreign ministers held phone talks.
The calls place Pakistan in a mediating role between Iran and Saudi Arabia at a time when Houthi attacks on the kingdom remain a source of tension. Pakistan maintains close ties with both Riyadh and Tehran, and its reliance on imported energy gives it a direct interest in keeping the region's shipping and supply routes stable.
What to watch next is whether Iran responds publicly to Pakistan's appeal, and whether Islamabad's planned diplomatic push produces any change in the pace of Houthi attacks.