Pakistan's military chief and prime minister have concluded separate diplomatic visits aimed at advancing efforts to end the United States-Iran conflict, with Field Marshal Asim Munir departing Tehran and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif returning from Türkiye. The moves come as Islamabad prepares to host another round of talks between the two adversaries in the coming days.
According to a Pakistani military statement, Field Marshal Munir held meetings with Iran's leadership and peace negotiators during a three-day visit to Tehran. The visit demonstrated Pakistan's "unwavering resolve to facilitate a negotiated settlement… and to promote peace, stability and prosperity." The statement was issued ahead of expected US-Iran talks in Islamabad, highlighting Pakistan's role as a mediator in the tense regional standoff.
Munir held discussions with Iran's president, foreign minister, parliament speaker, and head of the military central command center. Last week, an Iranian delegation led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi traveled to Islamabad for peace talks with the US, marking the highest-level face-to-face contact between Washington and Tehran in decades. Those talks ended without an agreement, and a ceasefire is set to expire on April 22, adding urgency to the diplomatic efforts.
Diplomacy has continued on multiple fronts, with Prime Minister Sharif visiting Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Türkiye to push the peace process. His three-country trip concluded on Saturday, with Sharif and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar departing a diplomacy forum in Antalya. Sharif posted on X: "I leave Antalya with fond memories and a renewed commitment to further strengthening the enduring fraternal bonds between our two nations, and to continuing our close cooperation to advance dialogue and diplomacy for lasting peace and stability in the region."
The flurry of diplomatic activity comes as further negotiations are anticipated in Pakistan soon, with Islamabad intensifying contacts with regional and global leaders in an effort to sustain momentum toward a US-Iran deal. Pressure for an agreement has grown after Iran reimposed restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz, hours after its reopening following the start of a ceasefire in Lebanon. Tehran accused the US of violating a deal to reopen the strategically vital waterway, underscoring the fragile nature of the negotiations.
Donald Trump has reportedly said a second round of talks with Iran could be held in Pakistan in the coming days. The New York Post reported that Trump praised Munir, stating he was "doing a great job." Reporting from Islamabad, Al Jazeera's Kamal Hyder noted that Munir returned home on Saturday as Pakistan prepares for another round of US-Iran talks expected "within the next few days." He added: "We have also seen a lot of praise from the Trump administration on social media, praising the Pakistani leadership. So all eyes are on Islamabad. Serious differences remain, but there is a flurry of diplomatic activity and a hope and expectation that some sort of breakthrough may happen."
Source: www.aljazeera.com