ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Minister for Defence, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, has stressed the importance of sustained engagement and constructive dialogue in advancing shared objectives of regional peace, security, and stability.
He made the remarks during a meeting with US Charge d’Affaires Natalie Baker in Islamabad on Wednesday, said a statement issued by the ministry.
The two sides exchanged views on matters of mutual interest, with a focus on regional and international security developments, as well as prospects for further strengthening bilateral cooperation.
The meeting reflected the shared commitment of both sides to maintain regular engagement and cooperation on issues of mutual interest.
Pakistan, Qatar and Oman mediating US, Iran indirect talks
Doha said on Tuesday that Pakistan, Qatar and Oman were mediating indirect talks between the United States and Iran to de-escalate tensions and revive broader diplomatic negotiations.
“We can confirm that the efforts are still ongoing with all parties,” Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari told reporters during a regular briefing in Doha.
Highlights from the weekly media briefing by Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al-Ansari @majedalansari, Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs#MOFAQatar pic.twitter.com/szy27F62uS
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Qatar (@MofaQatar_EN) August 4, 2026
Al Ansari said Pakistan, Qatar and Oman were working together to facilitate contacts between the two sides. “Qatar, Pakistan and now Oman are all working together,” he said.
“We are coordinating very closely with the Omanis to facilitate the talks between both sides and exchanging ideas and exchanging drafts between both sides,” the Qatar foreign ministry spokesperson added.
He said the immediate focus of the negotiations was to achieve a short-term breakthrough that could pave the way for broader mediation efforts.
“The negotiations are focused on a short-term resolution that would help us reignite the talks and go back to the mediation efforts in its totality,” Al Ansari said.
He added that Qatar’s immediate priority was reducing tensions and reopening the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping.
Marco Rubio on Iran:
There has been progress in talks to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but no final agreement has been reached yet.
We are hopeful that an agreement will be finalized very shortly. pic.twitter.com/LUtM46LbPy
— Clash Report (@clashreport) August 4, 2026
US, Iran make progress in Hormuz reopening talks
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that progress had been made in talks with Iran and Oman on reopening the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping.
Rubio told reporters at the State Department that negotiations were moving forward. “There’s been progress made in those talks, but not finality yet. We’re hoping that will happen very shortly,” the US Secretary of State said.
Also Read: US, Iran Make Progress in Hormuz Reopening Talks: Rubio
The US Secretary of State said that the “denuclearisation of Iran” is the “ultimate deal”.
“I think there is a conversation and a negotiation that we are involved in between Iran and Oman on how more ships can be able to go through there safely in the short term, as we move towards … longer-term talks about [Iran’s] denuclearisation,” Rubio said.
Mediators trying to revive Islamabad MoU
Pakistan and Qatar have intensified mediation efforts in recent days to seek a permanent resolution to the conflict between the United States and Iran through dialogue and diplomacy.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Pakistan continued to act as a mediator between Tehran and Washington, while Qatar was providing support whenever required during the negotiation process.
On Sunday, Iranian lawmaker Hassan Ghashghavi, spokesman for the Iranian parliament’s National Security Commission, said mediators were making renewed efforts to revive the Pakistan-brokered Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which ended the US-Iran conflict in June.
