DOMINANT ANGLE
Islamabad is relying on its shuttle diplomacy between Tehran and Riyadh, as the G7 urges Iran to stop arming the Houthis and Washington refrains from direct military engagement.
Dominant angle identified — does not reflect unanimity of this country’s media
KEY POINTS
- 01
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi made his sixth visit to Tehran since February, as part of regional mediation efforts with Chief of Staff Asim Munir, to address Houthi strikes against Saudi Arabia and the resumption of talks with Washington.
- 02
On September 22 in New York, Ishaq Dar and Prince Faisal bin Farhan signed a reciprocal visa exemption agreement for diplomatic and official passports between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
- 03
The G7 Foreign Ministers condemned "in the strongest terms" the Houthi strikes against Saudi Arabia and demanded that Iran cease arming them.
ANALYSIS
Islamabad, September 22, 2026. As the United Kingdom prepares to refuel Saudi fighter jets in flight and the G7 urges Tehran to stop arming the Houthis, the Pakistani press first looks to its own shuttle diplomacy. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, engaged in regional mediation alongside Chief of Staff Asim Munir, was received in Tehran by his Iranian counterpart, a sixth trip since February in the wake of the war launched by Washington and Israel against Iran, reports The Express Tribune. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei presented this visit as part of "bilateral relations", adding that ties between the two countries are developing "in all areas, especially in recent months". However, he specified that no specific mediation message was planned. Naqvi is expected to address Houthi strikes against Saudi oil and economic infrastructure, as well as the resumption of stalled peace talks with the United States.
On the same day, Islamabad strengthened its ties with Riyadh on another front: Vice Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar signed an agreement in New York, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, to reciprocally waive visas for holders of diplomatic and official passports with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, reports Geo News. Dar sees this as a step towards a "durable and fraternal strategic partnership", which extends Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's call to elevate the bilateral economic relationship, made last month before a Saudi business delegation.
Against this backdrop of rapprochement, the G7 foreign ministers condemned "in the strongest terms" the Houthi strikes against Saudi Arabia and demanded that Tehran stop arming the movement, while Washington continues to refuse any direct military intervention alongside Riyadh, according to ARY News: Yemeni Presidential Council Chairman Rashad al-Alimi himself requested help from Donald Trump, who promised no military support. Oil prices, meanwhile, fell on Monday to their lowest level in eleven days, below $100 a barrel, driven by hopes of a diplomatic breakthrough during the UN week and a partial resumption of Saudi exports.
SOURCES (4)
- The Express TribuneMEDIUM
- ARY NewsMEDIUM
- Business RecorderMEDIUM
