Ishaq Dar met Australian Foreign Minister Senator Penny Wong on the sidelines of the 2026 ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Manila on Thursday, where both leaders voiced concern over rising regional tensions and stressed the importance of dialogue, diplomacy and respect for international law.

According to Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO), the two foreign ministers reviewed Pakistan-Australia relations and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation through regular high-level engagement.

During the meeting, Dar and Wong discussed the latest regional and international developments. The FO said Wong appreciated Pakistan’s constructive role in promoting dialogue and efforts to reduce regional tensions.

Both ministers expressed concern over the recent escalation in the region and agreed that diplomacy, peaceful dialogue and adherence to international law remain essential for achieving lasting peace, stability and security.

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Earlier, Dar arrived in Manila with a high-level delegation to participate in the 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum Ministerial Meeting. During the visit, he is attending the ARF plenary session and holding a series of bilateral meetings with foreign ministers from participating countries.

Dar, Oman’s foreign minister pledge stronger cooperation

Dar also met Oman’s Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, where both sides welcomed the positive progress in bilateral relations and pledged to expand cooperation across multiple sectors.

According to the Foreign Office, the two ministers agreed to strengthen collaboration through high-level exchanges, increased trade and investment, stronger business-to-business links, closer people-to-people contacts and continued coordination at multilateral forums.

The ministers also exchanged views on regional and international developments. The FO said the Omani foreign minister appreciated Pakistan’s constructive role in promoting dialogue, de-escalation and regional peace.

Both sides stressed the importance of maintaining the ceasefire, respecting international law and working towards lasting peace and stability. They also agreed to remain in close contact on regional issues.

On his first full day in Manila, Dar held several diplomatic engagements ahead of the ASEAN Regional Forum ministerial meeting. He met senior officials of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and urged the lender to accelerate financing for Pakistan’s Main Line-1 (ML-1) railway project while discussing broader economic cooperation.

Dar also held separate meetings with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Khalilur Rehman. The discussions focused on strengthening bilateral relations, expanding cooperation in trade, energy and connectivity, and reinforcing diplomatic engagement with regional partners.

The week-long ASEAN Regional Forum, which concludes on July 24, has brought together foreign ministers and senior diplomats from ASEAN member states and major global powers to discuss geopolitical challenges, energy security, trade, food security, the Myanmar conflict and the impact of the US-Iran conflict.

Senior representatives from the United States, China, India, Japan, Australia, South Korea, Russia, the United Kingdom and the European Union are participating in the forum, highlighting its importance as one of the region’s leading diplomatic platforms.