Shehbaz claims having hour-long talk with Pezeshkian
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Saturday that he held a detailed phone conversation lasting over one hour with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Sharif stated that he apprised the Iranian leader of Pakistan’s ongoing diplomatic efforts, including outreach to the United States and Gulf states, to facilitate dialogue and reduce tensions in the region. Pakistan has previously offered to host direct or indirect talks between the US and Iran as part of these initiatives.
During the call, Sharif condemned recent Israeli strikes on Iran and expressed Pakistan’s “solidarity with the brave people of Iran,” according to the statement.
The conversation comes as Islamabad actively positions itself as a potential peace facilitator in the escalating Middle East conflict.
Multilateral talks in Islamabad
In a related development, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed that the country will host the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt in Islamabad on 29-30 March for in-depth discussions.
The agenda includes efforts to “de-escalate tensions in the region,” Dar said in a statement shared on X. Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that its foreign minister has travelled to the Pakistani capital for the meetings.
Pakistani officials have emphasised the country’s unique relationships across the region as it seeks to play a constructive role in promoting stability.
Offer to host US-Iran talks
Separately, Pakistan has publicly offered to host talks between the United States and Iran. Earlier this week, Dar indicated that “indirect talks” were already underway through messages relayed by Pakistan, though no confirmation has emerged yet on whether formal hosted negotiations will take place.
Prime Minister Sharif had posted on X that Pakistan “stands ready and honoured” to facilitate meaningful talks for a comprehensive settlement, subject to agreement by both sides. US President Donald Trump amplified the message by sharing a screenshot of Sharif’s post on his Truth Social platform.
These diplomatic moves reflect Pakistan’s broader efforts to mediate amid the ongoing conflict involving Iran, which has raised concerns over regional stability, energy markets, and wider escalation risks.
Analysts note that Islamabad’s initiatives leverage its ties with both Tehran and Washington, as well as key Gulf and Muslim-majority nations, in an attempt to bridge divides at a critical time. Further updates are expected following the trilateral-plus-Pakistan foreign ministers’ meeting this weekend.
Source: BBC