Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Saturday received a phone call from Iranian Acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani following assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

According to diplomatic sources, Ishaq Dar discussed the evolving situation with his Iranian counterpart with focus on heightened Iran-Israel tensions and the regional security.

According to a statement released by the Foreign Office in Islamabad, Acting Foreign Minister of Iran Ali Bagehri Kani called Ishaq Dar and shared the Iranian nation and its leadership’s deep anguish on the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran on the occasion of the inauguration of the President of Iran. 

The FO statement said “The Deputy Prime Minister conveyed that the people of Pakistan shared these sentiments. He shared that the Prime Minister of Pakistan had condemned the developments in Gaza and the atrocious assassination of Ismail Haniyeh Shaheed in the strongest possible terms.”

Moreover, the National Assembly of Pakistan had unanimously condemned the heinous act which was against international law, established diplomatic norms and acceptable behaviour amongst the comity of nations, the DPM Dar added. 

During the telephone call, the Iranian acting foreign minister also requested the deputy prime minister to participate in the Extraordinary Meeting of the OIC being convened on this matter at the Foreign Ministers level. The meeting has been requested by Iran and is likely to be held in the near future. 

“The Deputy Prime Minister fully supported the call for an Extraordinary Meeting of the OIC Foreign Ministers and confirmed that Pakistan would actively participate in the important meeting,” it was further added.

It may be mentioned here that Ishaq Dar was in Tehran to attend the inauguration of the new Iranian president when Ismail Haniyeh war martyred by an Israeli bomb.

Reporter Anwar Abbas