Islamabad emerges as diplomatic hub as US–Iran talks show progress, says PM Shehbaz
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday said that “full efforts” were underway to resolve remaining issues between the United States and Iran following high-level negotiations held in Islamabad over the weekend.
Addressing a federal cabinet meeting, the prime minister said the ceasefire between the two sides was still intact and described the development as a “historic moment” for regional and global diplomacy.
“Today, the ceasefire still stands… full efforts are underway to resolve them,” he said, adding that Pakistan had helped facilitate an environment where dialogue could take place directly between Washington and Tehran.
PM Shehbaz said the Islamabad talks provided an opportunity to “turn looming clouds of war into lasting peace,” noting that such diplomatic breakthroughs often take months or years, citing global peace agreements such as Oslo and the Good Friday Agreement.
He revealed that delegations from the United States and Iran held nearly 21 hours of continuous negotiations and, for the first time in decades, engaged in direct face-to-face dialogue.
Pakistan’s leadership, including Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Chief of Defence Forces Asim Munir, were praised for their efforts in facilitating the discussions and maintaining momentum toward de-escalation.
The prime minister said the process had at times come close to collapsing but was sustained through continuous engagement. He also acknowledged international appreciation from several global leaders who commended Pakistan’s diplomatic role.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the federal cabinet adopted a resolution expressing gratitude for Pakistan’s role in hosting and facilitating the talks, stating that the effort helped “end a nearly half-century-long stalemate” between the two sides.
While no final breakthrough was achieved, officials confirmed that the ceasefire continues and diplomatic engagement remains ongoing.
