ISLAMABAD — Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday held separate talks with US and Iranian delegations in Islamabad, expressing hope that ongoing negotiations would serve as a “stepping stone” toward lasting peace.
Sharif met with US Vice President JD Vance after earlier holding discussions with the Iranian delegation led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf.
During his meeting with the US side, Sharif praised both delegations for their willingness to “engage constructively” and voiced optimism that the talks could lead to durable regional stability, according to a statement from his office.
He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to facilitating dialogue between the two sides and supporting efforts to achieve sustainable peace.
The meetings come as Islamabad hosts the landmark negotiations, dubbed the “Islamabad Talks,” following a two-week ceasefire brokered earlier this week.
Vance is accompanied by special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, while Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also attended the meeting with the US delegation.
Earlier, Sharif met with the Iranian delegation, which includes Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and senior official Ali Bagheri Kani, though no official statement was released on those discussions.
The talks, expected to proceed in both direct and indirect formats, aim to end the broader conflict that began on Feb. 28.
Pakistan has positioned itself as a key mediator, seeking to bridge differences between Washington and Tehran amid ongoing tensions.
Source: Saudi Gazette