BISHKEK: Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Iran’s Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni held high-level talks in Kyrgyzstan’s capital on Friday, focusing on regional stability, de-escalation efforts, and security cooperation amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) conference of interior and public security ministers, being held in Bishkek from June 4 to 6. During their discussions, both leaders reviewed bilateral relations and exchanged views on the evolving security situation across the region.
According to Pakistan’s Interior Ministry, the two ministers stressed the importance of sustained diplomatic engagement to promote lasting peace and prevent further escalation. They also discussed internal security challenges and explored avenues for closer cooperation between Islamabad and Tehran.
The talks come amid Pakistan’s increasing diplomatic involvement in efforts to ease tensions between Iran and the United States. In recent weeks, Islamabad has intensified contacts with Tehran, with Naqvi making multiple visits to the Iranian capital and holding meetings with senior Iranian leadership, including President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Pakistan’s military leadership has also played an active role in regional diplomacy. Field Marshal Asim Munir recently visited Tehran, where he met key Iranian officials to discuss mechanisms aimed at strengthening peace and stability in the region.
The latest diplomatic engagement follows months of conflict triggered by a joint US-Israeli military offensive against Iran earlier this year. Iran responded with retaliatory strikes, raising fears of a broader regional confrontation.
Pakistan has since positioned itself as a mediator, facilitating ceasefire efforts and hosting direct discussions between Washington and Tehran. While negotiations have yet to produce a final agreement, diplomatic channels remain open, with both sides continuing to exchange proposals in search of a breakthrough.
Sources familiar with the process indicate that Iran remains focused on securing an immediate end to hostilities while advocating separate negotiations on its nuclear programme. Tehran has reportedly expressed readiness to suspend uranium enrichment for a limited period but continues to reject longer-term restrictions sought by Washington.
The Bishkek meeting underscored Pakistan and Iran’s shared view that dialogue remains the most effective path toward reducing tensions and ensuring long-term regional security.
