Pakistan Warns Against Closure of Strait of Hormuz, Calls It Vital For Global Trade

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Foreign Office has said that it is absolutely essential to keep the Strait of Hormuz open as, “its closure will affect the entire world,” Pakistani Foreign Office spokesman said in a weekly briefing.

He further elaborated that keeping the Strait of Hormuz open is essential for energy, trade, and the supply of goods, adding, “We hope the negotiations will succeed and the trade route will be restored.”

“We are in contact with the relevant parties on the matter. Regarding negotiations, both new and old proposals are on the table. We hope peace will prevail,” Andrabi said, referring to efforts to bring the United States and Iran on the same page and to bring about an end to hostilities between the two countries.

Pakistan has hosted direct talks with Iran following a ceasefire which Pakistani government leaders orchestrated in first week of April.

However Pakistan’s efforts to bring Iranian and US officials to the negotiating table in Islamabad for second round of talks failed to bear fruit.

In the weekly briefing the spokesman said Following a raid on a “scamming compound” in Cambodia, the spokesperson said that the total number of Pakistani nationals detained in the country has risen to 84, including 76 men and eight women.

He added that “all Pakistani citizens are safe and that Cambodian authorities have assured full cooperation. The Pakistani Embassy has been granted consular access to the detainees”.

“Deputy Head of Mission Bilal Mohsin met the detained Pakistanis, and the Cambodian authorities are providing them with food and medical facilities,” added the FO spokesperson.

Pakistan is in contact with the Somali government over the hostage crisis involving Pakistani sailors aboard a hijacked oil tanker, the Foreign Office (FO) said on Thursday.

Last week, armed pirates hijacked the oil tanker near the Somali coast and took 11 Pakistani crew members and the Indonesian captain of the vessel hostage.
Addressing the weekly press briefing, FO Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said the pirates are also in touch with the ship’s owner.

Hijackings off Somalia have fuelled concerns about a resurgence of Indian Ocean raids by opportunistic pirates. Pirate attacks off the Somali coast peaked in 2011 — with gunmen launching attacks as far as 3,655km from the Somali coast.

The incident also comes at a time of heightened regional tensions and disruptions to shipping routes, including the Strait of Hormuz.

Speaking about the blockaded strait, Andrabi said it is a key transit route for maritime trade and oil shipments, reiterating support for an early restoration of normal maritime flow in the region.