Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar welcomes Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on arrival at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad, on November 5, 2024. — X@ForeignOfficePk 

ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has stressed the importance of uninterrupted energy supplies and the safe and speedy movement of ships amid growing concerns over disruptions to key maritime routes.

Dar made the remarks during a phone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Saturday, according to Pakistan’s Foreign Office.

The Foreign Office said the two officials agreed to maintain close cooperation and also decided to meet in New York on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Dar emphasised that the safe and expeditious passage of ships is particularly important for developing countries and global supply chains.

The deputy prime minister also stressed that dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable means of promoting peace and stability in the region.

The conversation came hours after Pakistan called on Yemen’s Houthi group to immediately stop attacks on merchant ships and seafarers in the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

Speaking at a UN Security Council Arria-Formula meeting, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, stressed the need to protect freedom of navigation and the safety of commercial shipping.

He said attacks on merchant vessels in the Bab al-Mandab Strait and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz could have far-reaching consequences for global peace, energy security and food security.

Pakistan has also expressed concern over the impact of disruptions to commercial shipping and called for maritime security and freedom of navigation to be protected.

The developments highlight growing concerns over the security of major maritime routes that are important for international trade and energy supplies.