Pakistan and Oman Forge Deeper Ties at Manila Forum

FM Ishaq Dar met Oman’s Foreign Minister at the ASEAN Regional Forum in Manila, agreeing to expand trade, investment, and people-to-people ties while stressing regional ceasefire and peace.

Pakistan’s diplomatic calendar is running at full pace. On the sidelines of the 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Ministerial Meeting in Manila on July 23, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar held a bilateral meeting with Oman’s Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, reaffirming both countries’ commitment to deepening their bilateral relationship across trade, investment, and diplomacy.

The two leaders expressed satisfaction with the positive trajectory of bilateral cooperation and agreed to further strengthen collaboration through high-level exchanges, enhanced trade and investment, people-to-people contacts, stronger business-to-business linkages, and continued coordination at multilateral forums.

The Omani Foreign Minister appreciated Pakistan’s constructive role in promoting dialogue, de-escalation, and regional peace and security. Both sides also exchanged views on the latest regional and international developments, expressing concern over recent tensions in the region.

They stressed the importance of upholding the ceasefire, respecting international law, and working towards lasting peace and stability.

The Manila engagement is part of a packed diplomatic schedule for Dar at the ARF. On the sidelines of the same forum, Dar also met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, with both leaders reaffirming their commitment to expanding cooperation in trade, energy, connectivity and other areas, while enhancing coordination at multilateral forums.

Dar additionally called on the Asian Development Bank to accelerate financing for Pakistan’s Main Line-1 railway project, and held talks with Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Khalilur Rehman, who is President-elect of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

The Pakistan-Oman bilateral relationship carries particular economic weight. Oman is home to a significant Pakistani diaspora community that contributes substantially to the country’s remittance inflows, while the two countries share deep ties through the Gulf Cooperation Council framework and regional trade corridors.

Any expansion of business-to-business linkages and investment flows between the two countries would carry meaningful implications for Pakistan’s foreign exchange position and economic diversification agenda.

The 33rd ARF Ministerial Meeting, held on July 22 and 23 in Manila, brought together foreign ministers and delegates from 27 ARF member states, with discussions centred on key regional and international political and security issues and a focus on promoting peace, stability, and mutual cooperation through sustained dialogue and diplomacy.

As Pakistan intensifies its diplomatic outreach across the Gulf, Asia-Pacific, and multilateral forums simultaneously, the Manila engagements signal a foreign policy posture increasingly confident of its convening power on the world stage.