Pakistan Invites Iran and US for Talks After Ceasefire Deal

Islamabad: (Web Desk) – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that Pakistan will host delegations from the United States and Iran later this week following their recent ceasefire agreement. In a post on X, he expressed appreciation to both sides and formally invited them to Islamabad on April 10, 2026, for further negotiations aimed at reaching a lasting settlement.

Pakistan, which maintains close ties with Donald Trump and closely monitors developments in neighboring Iran, has recently played a key role as a communication bridge between Tehran and Washington. The prime minister expressed hope that the upcoming “Islamabad Talks” would pave the way for sustainable peace and lead to further positive developments.

The ceasefire agreement was reached shortly before a deadline set by Trump, with both Tehran and Washington agreeing to halt hostilities for two weeks. Separately, Shehbaz Sharif confirmed that Masoud Pezeshkian had assured participation in the Islamabad talks during a 45-minute phone call.

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The conflict began after joint strikes by Israel and the United States on Iran on February 28, which led to the assassination of Iran’s supreme leader and triggered retaliatory attacks by Tehran on Gulf countries and Israel. The situation further escalated when Hezbollah launched attacks from Lebanon, drawing Israel into additional military operations, including strikes on Beirut and ground incursions in southern Lebanon.

While the ceasefire is intended to apply across the region, including Lebanon, Israel indicated it would continue operations against Hezbollah. The temporary truce followed intense diplomatic efforts led by Pakistan and other mediators to prevent a wider escalation, particularly threats targeting Iran’s infrastructure.

Countries including Turkey, Egypt, China, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar were also involved in facilitating dialogue and supporting peace efforts. The prime minister thanked Gulf nations for their commitment to regional stability.

Pakistan, which shares a long border with Iran and represents certain Iranian diplomatic interests in Washington, currently enjoys balanced relations with both Tehran and the United States, positioning itself as a key mediator in the crisis.