EU foreign policy chief raises concerns over ceasefire violations in call with Dar

The calls came a week after the first round of four-party talks involving Iran and the US, mediated by Qatar and Pakistan, concluded in Switzerland.

European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas expressed “serious concerns” over recent ceasefire violations during a telephone conversation with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Sunday, according to the Foreign Office.

The ceasefire, signed less than two weeks ago to end a four-month conflict between Iran and the United States, has come under strain. Iran launched missiles and drones at US military sites in Kuwait and Bahrain on Sunday, while Washington confirmed fresh strikes on Iranian targets. Israel also announced attacks on Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon, raising further doubts about the stability of the truce.

The Foreign Office said Kallas stressed the importance of keeping “channels of communication open” as the two leaders reviewed the rapidly evolving regional situation. She also appreciated “Pakistan’s sincere efforts culminating in the signing of the Islamabad MoU.”

Dar briefed Kallas on Pakistan’s ongoing diplomatic engagement aimed at promoting peace and stability in the Middle East. He emphasized the need for all parties to abide by the ceasefire agreement. Both sides agreed to maintain close contact as developments continue.

Separately, Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani spoke with Dar and conveyed his intention to visit Pakistan soon to personally thank the country’s leadership for its role in facilitating the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding and the ceasefire.

Al Zayani congratulated Dar on the signing of the MoU and praised Pakistan’s constructive role. He expressed hope that the agreement “would contribute to lasting peace and stability in the region.” He said he would visit Pakistan “in the near future in order to personally thank the prime minister, DPM/FM and CDF for their great efforts to achieve the ceasefire.”

Dar thanked his Bahraini counterpart for his sentiments and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to diplomacy. He reiterated Pakistan’s resolve “to promote dialogue and diplomacy for achieving peace and stability in the region and beyond,” the Foreign Office said.

The calls came a week after the first round of four-party talks involving Iran and the US, mediated by Qatar and Pakistan, concluded in Switzerland. The talks marked the first formal follow-up engagement since the signing of the Islamabad MoU earlier this month.

On June 18, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding as mediator, formalizing a major diplomatic breakthrough between the US and Iran. Israel, excluded from the peace talks, has distanced itself from the accord and continued fighting against Hezbollah in Lebanon, raising questions about the durability of the agreement.

The US and Israel launched the war on Iran on February 28, assassinating Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and senior military leaders on the first day. The conflict quickly escalated into a regional war that has killed more than 7,000 people, mostly in Iran and Lebanon. It has also driven up energy prices, renewed inflationary pressures, and sparked concerns about a major food supply crisis in developing countries.