Pakistan Urges Continued Diplomacy — Foreign Minister Says Ceasefire Must Hold

April 13, 2026 — Pakistan Urges Continued Diplomacy — Foreign Minister Says Ceasefire Must Hold.

Islamabad Keeps Diplomatic Channels Open

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stressed on April 12, 2026, that it is "imperative" for both the United States and Iran to uphold their commitment to the two-week ceasefire, despite the failure of face-to-face peace talks in Islamabad. "We hope that the two sides will continue with the positive spirit to achieve durable peace and prosperity for the entire region and beyond," Dar said in a statement.

Pakistan's role as mediator has transformed dramatically during the crisis. What began as quiet back-channel facilitation evolved into full-scale diplomatic brokering, with PM Shehbaz Sharif personally credited by both the U.S. and Iran for helping secure the April 8 ceasefire. Pakistan pulled in support from Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and China to build a multilateral framework for the talks.

Pakistan's Continued Role

Despite the breakdown, Pakistan has signaled it will "continue to play its role to facilitate engagement and dialogue" between Washington and Tehran. Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir, who has been closely involved in the mediation, is reportedly in contact with both sides to prevent the situation from deteriorating further before the April 22 ceasefire expiration.

The Islamabad talks — held at the heavily secured Serena Hotel with over 10,000 security personnel deployed across the capital — represented the first face-to-face engagement between the U.S. and Iran since the 2015 nuclear deal negotiations. While they failed to produce a deal, both sides acknowledged the talks were substantive, covering the Strait of Hormuz, nuclear program, war reparations, sanctions relief, and Lebanon.

Regional Implications

Pakistan's emergence as a key mediator reflects the shifting dynamics of Middle Eastern diplomacy. Traditional mediators like Qatar and Oman have been sidelined by the scale of the conflict, while Pakistan's geographic proximity to Iran, its military capabilities, and its relationships with both Washington and Beijing give it unique leverage. The question now is whether that leverage can prevent a return to full-scale hostilities when the ceasefire clock runs out on April 22.