Pakistan mediates Iran talks
- Pakistan has stepped up to push for US–Iran talks and helped secure a temporary extension of a fragile ceasefire. - Diplomats say Iran set a 36–72 hour window for talks, and the planned Vance trip was canceled. - Pakistan's mediation has boosted its diplomatic profile even as critics at home question the political payoff. (x.com, x.com)
Pakistan says it helped secure a temporary extension of a fragile U.S.–Iran ceasefire and is pushing to host a new round of talks in Islamabad. (aljazeera.com)) The ceasefire was first brokered in early April as a two‑week truce and Islamabad hosted a first round of direct U.S.–Iran negotiations on April 11–12. (aljazeera.com)) President Donald Trump told reporters a second round of talks could happen within “36 to 72 hours,” a timeline U.S. and Pakistani officials tied to Islamabad’s mediation. (en.yna.co.kr)) But plans shifted: Vice President J.D. Vance’s planned trip to Islamabad was postponed or canceled this week, U.S. officials told CNBC and Axios. (cnbc.com)) The timing matters because Iran has reimposed restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s forces said they seized two container ships this week, raising pressure on shipping and energy routes. (aljazeera.com)) Islamabad has leaned on both civilian and military channels: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir have led outreach, and Pakistan says it allowed Pakistani‑flagged vessels to transit the strait as a confidence gesture. (euronews.com)) Not everyone in Pakistan sees a payoff: analysts warn the effort carries political and economic risks, and a Stimson Center commentator wrote “this initiative is undermined by Pakistan’s own political limitations.” (stimson.org)) Islamabad says it will continue to press both sides; the coming 36–72 hours — and whether Tehran sends negotiators — will determine if the ceasefire extension can be turned into a lasting pause. (pakistantoday.com.pk))
