Pakistan, Oman vow to strengthen regional peace, economic connectivity, development

ISLAMABAD, Oct 14 (APP): Pakistan and Oman on Wednesday reaffirmed their commitment to promoting regional peace, strengthening economic connectivity and expanding bilateral cooperation, emphasizing regular high-level engagement and joint efforts to address regional challenges and unlock development opportunities.

In their opening remarks at the 8th Pakistan-Oman Joint Ministerial Commission session, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Oman’s Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Al Busaidi highlighted the importance of closer coordination to advance regional stability, trade, investment and economic development.

Ishaq Dar said the two sides had agreed to avoid long gaps between ministerial meetings, noting that regular interaction was essential to realizing the considerable potential for enhanced bilateral trade, economic activity and investment.

He said the discussions covered areas of mutual interest, alongside regional and international developments, including tensions involving the United States and Iran, the Strait of Hormuz, Bab al-Mandab, Palestine, Gaza, and Jammu and Kashmir.

Emphasizing the importance of regional stability, the deputy prime minister commended Oman’s leadership and diplomatic efforts to promote peace and facilitate dialogue. He said Pakistan and Oman could play a vital role in addressing ongoing regional challenges, adding that both countries shared similar perspectives on several key issues.

Ishaq Dar also highlighted the longstanding relationship between Pakistan and Oman, noting that although diplomatic relations had spanned 55 years, their historical, cultural and people-to-people ties extended back centuries. He particularly underscored the strong connections between Oman and Balochistan, including Gwadar.

He warned that regional instability had disrupted energy supply chains and contributed to soaring prices, placing additional pressure on ordinary people. He stressed the need to restore peace and stability to support regional prosperity.

Oman’s Foreing Minister Al Busaidi, meanwhile, said the two countries had significant opportunities to deepen cooperation through existing institutional mechanisms, including the friendship association, business council and political consultations between the foreign ministers. He welcomed the commitment to hold meetings more regularly to translate shared objectives into tangible outcomes.

The Omani foreign minister also praised Pakistan’s constructive role in promoting dialogue and diplomacy, particularly its efforts to create space for engagement between Iran and the United States amid rising regional tensions.

On economic cooperation, Al Busaidi identified trade, logistics, port connectivity, energy, food security, technology and tourism as promising areas for collaboration. He called for stronger private-sector engagement, institutional partnerships, academic and technological cooperation, and increased people-to-people exchanges.

Both sides stressed that sustained diplomatic engagement, improved economic connectivity and stronger bilateral partnerships could contribute to regional stability and deliver meaningful development benefits for the people of Pakistan and Oman.

Earlier, in a meeting held here at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two ministers reaffirmed the close, fraternal ties between Pakistan and Oman and underscored the importance of sustained high-level engagement to deepen cooperation across all areas of mutual interest, particularly trade, investment and people-to-people contacts.

Exchanging views on regional developments, the two Ministers emphasized the importance of dialogue and diplomacy in advancing lasting peace and stability. The Omani foreign minister commended Pakistan’s efforts to promote regional peace and security. DPM/FM also acknowledged and appreciated Oman’s constructive role and its shared aspirations for regional peace and stability.