Fresh push for dialogue

As tension is once again brewing up in the Gulf sparking debate about threats to temporary ceasefire, Pakistan has intensified its mediation efforts to save the peace process. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi reached Tehran on Saturday carrying, what Iranian sources say, an important message of Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir for Iranian Supreme Leader Mujtaba Khamanei. The visit assumes special significance as Naqvi had a meeting with his Iranian counterpart on the sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) conference in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan and received instructions from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif before his departure to Tehran. Recent ceasefire violations by two sides constitute a grave threat to regional peace and global economy, complicating mediation efforts of Pakistan. At present, their limited provocative actions have prevented resumption of full-scale war but the situation can get out of control any time due to miscalculation and regional factors. In the latest escalation, the US forces struck Iran’s coastal radar sites on Saturday after shooting down drones launched by Iran toward the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had targeted US bases in the region with missiles in retaliation for US strikes and fired on four tankers attempting to cross the strait without its permission. Kuwaiti air defences were intercepting missile and drone attacks of undisclosed origin, state media reported, while in Bahrain sirens sounded and residents were urged to seek shelter. As has been widely reported by world media, Israeli aggression in Lebanon has become one of the major hurdles in way of de-escalation as the Jewish state is pushing ahead its agenda of bombing the country and occupying its areas despite worldwide condemnation. There were recent reports that President Donald Trump had a heated exchange with Israeli Prime Minister over continued attacks in Lebanon but this