Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister (FM) Ishaq Dar and his Omani counterpart Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Al Busaidi on Wednesday agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation and intensify diplomatic efforts for regional peace and stability, as the two countries held the eighth session of the Pakistan-Oman Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) in Islamabad after a seven-year gap. Speaking during a media briefing in Islamabad, FM Dar welcomed the Omani counterpart and his delegation to Pakistan, conveying greetings on behalf of President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to the Sultan of Oman. The foreign minister said the two countries had maintained frequent interactions and shared longstanding historical and diplomatic ties. Referring to the JMC, he said: "The meeting was taking place after seven years, and both sides had agreed during their restricted meeting to avoid such lengthy gaps in the future." He said there was considerable scope for enhancing bilateral trade, economic activities and investment opportunities, stressing that regular engagement was essential to achieving progress. Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 held a cordial meeting with H.E. Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Al Busaidi @badralbusaidi ahead of the 8th Pakistan-Oman Joint Ministerial session. The two Ministers reaffirmed the close, fraternal… pic.twitter.com/jpjqXRlqZJ — Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) October 14, 2026 “I promise that in 2027, God will, inshallah, I will visit your great country for this purpose and we will have the next GMC there,” FM Dar said. The foreign minister said both sides had identified areas of mutual interest and discussed regional and global developments in detail during their restricted meeting. He said discussions covered the "United States, Iran, the Strait of Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb, Palestine, the situation in Gaza, Jammu and Kashmir and other pressing regional issues." FM Dar commended Oman’s leadership and its diplomatic efforts to promote regional peace, particularly its role in efforts to secure peace among Muslim countries. He said Pakistan appreciated Oman’s efforts before Islamabad became involved in supporting the same objective. “So, you did a great job and Pakistan commends, and I personally am a great admirer of your efforts,” FM Dar said. Referring to Pakistan’s relationship with Oman and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), FM Dar said the countries coordinated closely through the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the United Nations and other multilateral institutions. He said diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Oman spanned 55 years, while historical ties between the two countries extended back centuries. FM Dar highlighted the longstanding connections between Oman and Pakistan’s Balochistan province, particularly the historical relationship involving Gwadar. He said the two countries had agreed to work closely for regional peace and address ongoing challenges. Referring to developments involving the Houthis and Saudi Arabia, FM Dar said the two sides had discussed the situation in Bab el-Mandeb and shared similar views on the need to resolve the issues. He stressed that diplomatic efforts were necessary to address the suffering caused by regional conflicts and instability. “The sufferings are very, very visible. Even in Pakistan, the energy supply chain has been disrupted. The prices have skyrocketed. The common man obviously cannot afford,” he said. The foreign minister added that the "consequences of the disruption were being felt across the world." FM Dar called for restoring peace and stability in the region, saying Pakistan and Oman could play an important role in achieving that objective. He also appreciated Oman’s engagement with Pakistan during the Pakistan-India war and other international developments, saying the two countries regularly kept each other informed and maintained close communication. FM Dar also referred to his previous meeting with the Omani foreign minister in Manila. Addressing the briefing, the Omani foreign minister expressed appreciation for the warm welcome extended to him and his delegation in Islamabad. He highlighted the historical, cultural and traditional bonds between Oman and Pakistan and reaffirmed his country's commitment to expanding bilateral cooperation across various sectors. The Omani foreign minister said the eighth session of the JMC provided an important mechanism for strengthening relations and delivering benefits to the people of both countries. He referred to the existing friendship association, business council and political consultations between the two foreign ministers as mechanisms that could drive closer cooperation. Sayyid Badr said regular meetings would help both countries fulfil the aspirations of their leadership and people. The Omani foreign minister also acknowledged Pakistan’s constructive role in promoting dialogue and diplomacy at a time of heightened regional tensions. “I would like to also acknowledge Pakistan's constructive role in supporting dialogue and diplomacy in our region at a time when tensions can easily escalate,” he said. He particularly appreciated Pakistan's diplomatic efforts to facilitate engagement between Iran and the United States. “I salute you for all the efforts that you have led in recent months, and we appreciate Pakistan's role that has helped create space for dialogue between Iran and the United States in particular,” he said. The Omani foreign minister thanked officials from both countries for their extensive preparations ahead of the ministerial meeting. Turning to economic cooperation, he said both countries were pursuing important economic transformations and had opportunities to expand collaboration in trade, logistics, port connectivity, energy, food security, technology and tourism. He also highlighted the importance of strengthening people-to-people connections. The minister said the potential for cooperation existed, but both countries needed to remove obstacles and create favourable conditions for businesses and investors. He encouraged greater interaction between the private sectors, stronger institutional partnerships, increased academic and technological cooperation, and more regular exchanges between the people of Oman and Pakistan. The Omani foreign minister expressed hope that the JMC would become a more effective platform for delivering meaningful progress for both countries.