Play store
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari has urged the United States and Iran to exercise mutual restraint and honour their commitments under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, a framework accord established in June to de-escalate the wider Middle East conflict.
Zardari called for escalating differences to be settled through dialogue and diplomatic engagement, highlighting the vital importance of ensuring safe, unimpeded commercial navigation across the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea.
His remarks came during a meeting in Islamabad with Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev, according to an official statement issued by the president’s office.
The Pakistani head of state expressed profound concern over mounting military friction across the Gulf, pointing directly to attacks against maritime shipping, energy infrastructure, and critical regional facilities.
Zardari warned that the expanding crisis poses serious threats to regional stability, international trade corridors, and global energy security, reiterating the need to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations.
Pakistan-Russia cooperation
Kolokoltsev is on a four-day official visit to Pakistan, the first by a Russian interior minister to the South Asian country.
During the meeting, Zardari noted that bilateral trade, which stood at $243.4 million in the 2025 financial year, remained below its potential and urged both countries to translate their leaders’ goodwill into tangible results.
Kolokoltsev agreed that trade volumes did not reflect the strength of bilateral relations, saying there was considerable room for expansion. Source: TRT World.
