China backs Pakistan's mediation push

China on Friday threw its weight behind Pakistan's diplomatic efforts to broker peace in the Middle East, underscoring that only negotiations can prevent further escalation and avert wider regional fallout. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi conveyed his country's support during a telephonic conversation with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, as Islamabad intensifies backchannel diplomacy aimed at reducing tensions between US and Iran. "Initiating peace talks is no easy task, but it is the only viable path to avoid further casualties and losses," Wang said, according to an official Chinese readout. His statement came as Pakistan has emerged a lead player in facilitating indirect talks between the United States and Iran. After days of speculations, Islamabad on Thursday acknowledged that it delivered 15-point US plan to Tehran in order to end the war. The US President's pointman for the Middle East Steve Witkoff also confirmed that Pakistan was acting as a mediator between Washington and Tehran. Amid these developments, the Chinese Foriegn Minister stressed that dialogue would also help prevent the expansion of the conflict and restore normal navigation through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. Dar briefed Wang on the evolving situation and outlined Pakistan's perspective, highlighting Islamabad's ongoing efforts to facilitate indirect contacts between the warring sides. He thanked China for backing Pakistan's mediation role and emphasized that an immediate ceasefire and return to negotiations remained a shared objective. "The current moment is critical for restarting peace talks," Dar said, urging the international community to encourage Washington and Tehran to return to the negotiating table. He noted that Pakistan and China shared "aligned positions" on the crisis and expressed hope that the two countries would coordinate closely to play a constructive role in ending hostilities. Reaffirming Beijing's stance, Wang described China and Pakistan as "strategic partners of mutual trust," saying both countries maintained an "objective and just" position on the conflict. He appreciated Pakistan's "unremitting efforts" to de-escalate tensions and reiterated China's support for Islamabad's continued mediation. China, he added, was ready to enhance strategic communication with Pakistan and work jointly to promote peace, safeguard maritime routes and ensure regional stability. Both sides agreed to push for an immediate ceasefire, resumption of peace talks and protection of non-military targets, while also supporting a leading role for the United Nations in conflict resolution. Separately, Dar spoke with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, with the two leaders exchanging views on the regional situation and reaffirming the importance of dialogue, restraint and collective efforts to promote peace. The latest diplomatic engagements underscore Pakistan's growing role as a potential intermediary in a conflict that risks spiralling into a broader regional war, with global powers increasingly backing efforts to bring the US and Iran back to the negotiating table. The foreign minister also held telephonic conversation with Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres. "We exchanged views on the evolving situation in the West Asia and its implications for international peace and security," Dar wrote on X.