ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Sunday urged the United States and Iran to maintain their commitment to the ceasefire, following the conclusion of high-level talks in Islamabad without a breakthrough.
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“It is imperative that the parties continue to uphold their commitment to the ceasefire,” Dar said during a press conference, shortly after JD Vance departed Pakistan after announcing that the 21-hour negotiations had failed to produce an agreement.
Dar expressed gratitude to both Washington and Tehran for responding to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s call for an immediate ceasefire and for accepting Pakistan’s invitation to hold peace talks in Islamabad.
He also acknowledged the appreciation shown by both sides for Pakistan’s mediatory role, noting that he, along with Asim Munir, facilitated multiple rounds of “intense and constructive negotiations” over the past 24 hours.
“Pakistan has been and will continue to play its role to facilitate engagement and dialogue between Iran and the US,” Dar said, expressing hope that both sides would move forward with a “positive spirit” to achieve lasting peace in the region.
Following the talks, Dar also briefed his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty and held similar discussions with Saudi officials, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to supporting diplomatic efforts aimed at regional stability.
Earlier, Vice President Vance confirmed that despite “substantive discussions,” no agreement had been reached, blaming Iran for refusing to accept US terms, particularly regarding its nuclear programme.
“We need to see an affirmative commitment that they will not seek a nuclear weapon,” Vance said, adding that the US had clearly outlined its red lines during the negotiations.
The US delegation included senior officials such as Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, while the Iranian side was led by Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
The talks followed a fragile two-week ceasefire brokered earlier this week after weeks of intense conflict in the Middle East, which had escalated since late February.
Despite the lack of a deal, both sides acknowledged Pakistan’s efforts in facilitating dialogue, while officials indicated that diplomatic engagement may continue in the coming days amid ongoing regional tensions.
