Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced that Islamabad will host delegations from the United States and Iran later this week for further negotiations following a recently declared ceasefire between both nations.
Sharif made the announcement on Wednesday in a post on X, stating that Pakistan would facilitate diplomatic discussions aimed at securing a more permanent resolution to ongoing tensions.
“I… extend deepest gratitude to the leadership of both countries and invite their delegations to Islamabad on Friday, 10th April 2026, to further negotiate for a conclusive agreement to settle all disputes,” he wrote.
The Pakistani leader expressed optimism that the proposed talks, which he described as the “Islamabad Talks,” would help cement sustainable peace between Washington and Tehran.
“We earnestly hope that the ‘Islamabad Talks’ succeed in achieving sustainable peace and wish to share more good news in the coming days,” Sharif added.
Pakistan has in recent weeks positioned itself as a key diplomatic channel between the two nations, leveraging its relationships with both the United States and Iran amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The announcement follows confirmation from both Tehran and Washington that they had agreed to a two-week ceasefire, reached shortly before a deadline set by former US President Donald Trump was due to expire.
The broader conflict reportedly began after strikes by Israel and the United States on Iranian targets, which resulted in the death of Iran’s supreme leader on February 28, triggering retaliatory attacks across the region, including against Israel and Gulf states.
Lebanon has also been affected by the conflict due to operations involving Iran-backed Hezbollah, prompting further regional instability.
While Sharif indicated that the ceasefire applies “everywhere, including Lebanon,” Israeli authorities later maintained that military operations against Hezbollah would continue.
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Pakistan said the ceasefire deal was made possible through coordinated diplomatic efforts involving multiple international actors, including Turkey, Egypt, China, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, all of whom contributed to de-escalation efforts.
Sharif separately praised these countries for their “support towards reaching the ceasefire and giving peaceful diplomatic efforts a chance,” while also acknowledging the role of Gulf nations in promoting regional stability.
Despite its complex historical relations with both Washington and Tehran, Pakistan has recently emerged as a credible mediator due to its strategic ties across the Middle East, China, and the United States.
Analysts note that Pakistan’s geographic proximity to Iran and its diplomatic influence within the Muslim world position it as a key intermediary in efforts to prevent further escalation in the region.
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