Pakistan on Tuesday urged the United States and Iran to extend their two-week ceasefire, stressing the importance of dialogue and diplomacy for lasting regional peace.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar made the call during a meeting with Natalie A Baker, the US Charge d’Affaires, according to a statement issued by the Foreign Office.
During the meeting, Dar underscored Pakistan’s consistent stance that dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable means to address ongoing challenges and ensure stability in the region. He emphasised the need for engagement between Washington and Tehran, urging both sides to consider extending the ceasefire.
Baker appreciated Pakistan’s constructive role in promoting regional peace and facilitating dialogue between the two sides.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had mediated the two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran on April 8 after six weeks of conflict in the Middle East. He also invited delegations from both countries to Islamabad to resolve their differences through talks.
However, the first round of negotiations, which lasted around 21 hours, failed to produce an agreement due to disagreements over key issues, including Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programme, the Strait of Hormuz, and the removal of US sanctions.
The conflict began on February 28 when the United States and Israel launched a joint bombing campaign against Iran. The situation escalated as Iran blocked the Strait of Hormuz and carried out attacks on Israeli targets and US bases in the region.
Pakistan’s latest call for extending the ceasefire comes as Islamabad continues preparations to host a second round of talks. While Washington has confirmed that its delegation, led by Vice President JD Vance, will arrive in Islamabad, Tehran has yet to confirm its participation.
The US delegation is also expected to include Jared Kushner and Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, according to reports.
Meanwhile, Iranian state television has denied reports suggesting that any delegation has departed for Pakistan, stating that no decision has yet been made regarding participation in the talks.
US President Donald Trump earlier indicated that the ceasefire would end “Wednesday evening Washington time.” In a separate interview, he said the United States was in a strong negotiating position and did not favour extending the truce.
Separately, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Pakistan remained in constant contact with Iran and continued to pursue diplomacy. He noted that a formal response from Tehran regarding participation in the Islamabad talks was still awaited.
Tarar added that the ceasefire is set to expire at 4:50am (Pakistan time) on Wednesday, April 22, stressing that Iran’s decision on attending the talks before the deadline would be crucial.
He said Pakistan had made sincere efforts to convince the Iranian leadership to join the negotiations and reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to bringing both sides back to the table.
