Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday said Pakistan had emerged as a recognised “peacemaker” and “middle power” on the global stage, crediting the country’s recent role as a mediator in the US-Iran war for raising the country’s international standing.

Speaking to the media at Data Darbar, FM Dar said Pakistan’s role in facilitating dialogue between rival countries had transformed perceptions of the country abroad.

“Today, Pakistan is being recognised across the world as a peacemaker,” he said. “A country that was once portrayed only through the lens of terrorism is now being acknowledged as a middle power and a net security provider.”

FM Dar said that people used to say Pakistan was diplomatically isolated, whereas now, Pakistan was making headlines across the world: “Countries that barely knew about Pakistan are now talking about it.”

He credited Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir and the foreign office for what he described as intensive diplomatic efforts.

“The team captain is PM Shehbaz,” FM Dar said. “Alongside him, Field Marshal Asim Munir and the foreign office worked tirelessly, day and night.”

Referring to Pakistan’s mediation efforts, FM Dar said Islamabad had helped bring together two countries that had not held direct talks in decades, “Pakistan’s role was to facilitate honestly and impartially.”

He said extensive behind-the-scenes diplomacy had been conducted by the prime minister, military leadership and diplomats, but much of it had not been publicised because “a facilitator cannot become a party to the dispute”.

FM Dar also reiterated Pakistan’s position on the conflict involving Iran, saying Islamabad was among the first countries to condemn attacks on a “brotherly Islamic country”, adding that Islamabad had simultaneously encouraged restraint and dialogue to prevent further bloodshed.

“People now respect the Pakistani passport,” he said. “Pakistan’s image in the world is very different today.”

Turning to domestic affairs, FM Dar said, “Allah enabled Pakistan to become a nuclear power, and later a missile power. What remains now is for us to become an economic power,” he said.

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He credited former prime minister Nawaz Sharif with overseeing both the country’s nuclear tests in 1998 and the development of its missile programme, while praising PM Shehbaz’s efforts to stabilise the economy.

FM Dar said Pakistan had ranked among the world’s top 24 economies in 2017 before slipping in subsequent years, but argued that economic indicators were once again moving in a positive direction.

“The country’s image has improved, stability has returned, and Pakistan is moving towards growth and development,” he said.

The deputy prime minister also congratulated devotees on the 983rd Ghusl Mubarak of Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh (RA) and praised the ongoing expansion of the Data Darbar complex.

He described the current project as the shrine’s largest expansion to date and credited Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, the Auqaf department and their teams for the work.

Drawing a link between the expansion of religious sites and national prosperity, FM Dar said investment in places of worship brought blessings and expressed confidence that Pakistan would continue to progress.

“When you come here, pray especially for Pakistan,” he said. “Pray that Allah makes Pakistan an economic power just as He has made it a nuclear and missile power.”