DOHA: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has said achieving peace between the United States and Iran requires patience, trust and sustained diplomatic efforts, stressing that lasting peace cannot be secured through a single meeting.
Speaking at the Global Security Forum in Doha on Monday, Naqvi said Pakistan had made every possible effort to bring Washington and Tehran to the negotiating table.
He acknowledged that tensions had escalated sharply at times but said Islamabad had continued its efforts to facilitate dialogue.
“Peace cannot be achieved in a single meeting. It requires patience, trust and continuous efforts,” Naqvi said.
Pakistan, Qatar Seek to Prevent Regional Escalation
Naqvi praised Qatar’s diplomatic efforts to mediate between the United States and Iran. He said Islamabad and Doha had worked together to prevent further escalation across the region.
His remarks came amid rising tensions in the Middle East, where Yemen’s internationally recognised government forces continue to fight Houthi rebels. The Houthis have also carried out attacks targeting Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia reported intercepting four drones on Saturday, followed by further interceptions on Sunday, amid repeated Houthi attacks.
Meanwhile, efforts to revive US-Iran negotiations remain stalled as both sides disagree over the conditions for resuming talks.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday that Tehran’s proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days remained on the table. However, he said progress depended on Washington’s response to Iran’s conditions.
Iran has demanded that the United States lift its blockade on Iranian ports, ease sanctions on oil exports and end hostilities across regional fronts. Washington, meanwhile, wants Iran’s nuclear programme to be addressed as a priority.
Naqvi Highlights Extended Swiss Peace Talks
The interior minister also recalled the Swiss peace talks, saying Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani had worked for more than 16 hours without a break.
Naqvi cited their efforts as an example of the sustained engagement needed to resolve complex regional disputes.
He also pointed to the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement (MJDA), signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, as evidence of Islamabad’s commitment to regional security.
He stressed that the agreement aimed to promote peace rather than war.
Makkah Defence Pact Emphasises Collective Security
Naqvi’s remarks came a day after Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said the MJDA’s collective deterrence provisions could come into play if negotiations failed and the regional crisis escalated into military conflict.
In an interview with Independent Arabia aired on Sunday, Chaudhry described the alliance as defensive in nature and said it was not directed against any particular country.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye signed the agreement on August 7 during the Makkah Al-Mukarramah Summit for Joint Defence.
Under the pact, an armed attack against any one of the three signatories would be regarded as an attack against all three, establishing a mutual-defence commitment among the countries.
Both officials have emphasised the importance of regional stability while highlighting the agreement’s collective security framework.
