(Pakistan, 30th) Pakistan said on Sunday that it is prepared to host 'meaningful talks' in the coming days to end the conflict surrounding Iran. After meeting with regional foreign ministers, Pakistani Foreign Minister Dar announced that the talks discussed how to achieve a permanent end to the war in the region as soon as possible, as well as the possibility of holding US-Iran talks in Islamabad.
Dar delivered a televised speech on Sunday (March 29), saying: “Pakistan is honored to host and facilitate meaningful talks between both sides in the coming days to comprehensively and permanently resolve the current conflict.”
It is not yet clear whether the United States and Iran have agreed to attend. The US State Department and the White House have not yet responded to the possibility of holding talks in Pakistan.
On Sunday, Dar met in Islamabad with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey.
Egypt stated that Sunday's talks were held under tight security, with no representatives from the United States, Israel, or Iran attending. The content of the talks included efforts to prevent the conflict from spreading and encouraging the establishment of a “negotiation channel” between Tehran and Washington to prevent the region from “falling into complete chaos.”
After the meeting, Dar said in a televised speech that the visiting foreign ministers expressed full support for holding US-Iran talks in Islamabad. “The foreign ministers emphasized that dialogue and diplomacy are the only feasible ways to prevent conflict and promote regional peace and harmony.”
Dar has spoken by phone with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and UN Secretary-General Guterres. He said they “fully support” Pakistan's efforts to achieve peace, and other governments around the world share the same stance.
Nawaz (Shuja Nawaz) of Washington think tank the Atlantic Council believes that Pakistan has undertaken a “daunting task” in bringing Washington and Tehran to the negotiating table, and this can only be accomplished with Saudi Arabia's support.
He told AFP: “The real challenge facing Pakistan is how to get a White House president who often makes inconsistent decisions, and an Iranian government weighing whether to fight a prolonged war or try to prevent further economic collapse, to reach an agreement.”
He added: “Israel’s independent decision-making will further hinder Trump from declaring victory and ending a conflict that is damaging his domestic support rating. Pakistan has limited influence over both the United States and Iran, and none whatsoever over Israel.”
It is not yet clear whether the United States and Iran have agreed to attend. The US State Department and the White House have not yet responded to the possibility of holding talks in Pakistan.
On Sunday, Dar met in Islamabad with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey.
Egypt stated that Sunday's talks were held under tight security, with no representatives from the United States, Israel, or Iran attending. The content of the talks included efforts to prevent the conflict from spreading and encouraging the establishment of a “negotiation channel” between Tehran and Washington to prevent the region from “falling into complete chaos.”
After the meeting, Dar said in a televised speech that the visiting foreign ministers expressed full support for holding US-Iran talks in Islamabad. “The foreign ministers emphasized that dialogue and diplomacy are the only feasible ways to prevent conflict and promote regional peace and harmony.”
Dar has spoken by phone with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and UN Secretary-General Guterres. He said they “fully support” Pakistan's efforts to achieve peace, and other governments around the world share the same stance.
Nawaz (Shuja Nawaz) of Washington think tank the Atlantic Council believes that Pakistan has undertaken a “daunting task” in bringing Washington and Tehran to the negotiating table, and this can only be accomplished with Saudi Arabia's support.
He told AFP: “The real challenge facing Pakistan is how to get a White House president who often makes inconsistent decisions, and an Iranian government weighing whether to fight a prolonged war or try to prevent further economic collapse, to reach an agreement.”
He added: “Israel’s independent decision-making will further hinder Trump from declaring victory and ending a conflict that is damaging his domestic support rating. Pakistan has limited influence over both the United States and Iran, and none whatsoever over Israel.”