Pakistan, China Urge Iran US Ceasefire Call, Resume Peace Talks

PAKISTAN & CHINA – (Special Correspondent/Web Desk) – Pakistan and China have made a joint Pakistan China Iran US ceasefire call, urging both sides to stop fighting at once and return to the negotiating table. The appeal comes at a critical moment, as fresh violence threatens to unravel the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, a deal that had earlier brought hope of ending the conflict.

The call was made after Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar sat down with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Shanghai. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation event. Pakistan’s Foreign Office confirmed the details of the talks.

PR No. 1️⃣7️⃣4️⃣/2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣

Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Meets Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Shanghai (16 July 2026)

🔗⬇️ pic.twitter.com/KZBdXT7mCD

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) July 17, 2026

Both ministers spoke about the worsening situation in Iran and agreed on a shared stance. China’s foreign ministry said the two sides want all parties to stop hostilities right away. They also called for removing obstacles, restarting contact, and working toward a full peace deal through talks.

China stressed that the world community must keep backing efforts to calm things down. Wang Yi described the first phase of the US-Iran memorandum as a “hard-won” result, born from both direct talks and wider global effort. He also praised Pakistan’s role in the peace process, calling it an essential part of reaching this stage.

Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 concluded his productive visit to Shanghai, China, during which Pakistan formally joined the World AI Cooperation Organization (WAICO) by signing the founding agreement on behalf of Pakistan.

During… pic.twitter.com/0x4vIDc5bU

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) July 17, 2026

Wang added that the deal’s core points serve the long-term interests of everyone involved and match what the world expects. He warned that peace is close, and no one should risk losing it now. He asked all sides to stick to their promises and follow the memorandum fully. China also promised to keep supporting Pakistan’s peace efforts going forward.

According to China’s statement, Dar shared updates on Pakistan’s recent peace work. He thanked China for standing with Pakistan and said Islamabad will keep pushing for dialogue.

Despite this joint plea, fighting between the US and Iran flared up again on Friday. Iran claimed US forces hit civilian locations, including an airport, a train station, and two bridges. In response, Iran said it launched drone strikes on US military partners and facilities in Kuwait.

The Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil trade, had opened briefly after the earlier US-Iran agreement. But Iran announced last week it would shut the strait again until the US halts what it called ongoing aggression. The US has also brought back a blockade on Iranian ports.

In a separate part of the talks, Pakistan and China reviewed their wider relationship. Both sides expressed happiness over how steady and strong their partnership remains. They agreed to deepen ties under CPEC 2.0 and boost cooperation in trade, tech, and artificial intelligence.

Just concluded a productive visit to Shanghai, China. I express my sincere appreciation to the Government of the People’s Republic of China and its leadership for its warm hospitality and excellent arrangements throughout my short visit.

I also commend H.E. President Xi Jinping… pic.twitter.com/ssuNIqQE1a

— Ishaq Dar (@MIshaqDar50) July 17, 2026

Dar also confirmed that Pakistan formally joined WAICO during this visit by signing the founding agreement. He praised President Xi Jinping’s speech at the opening event, saying AI holds great promise but also comes with shared duty.

Dar wrapped up his Shanghai trip by thanking Chinese leaders for their warm welcome, before heading back to Islamabad for a busy week of diplomatic work.