ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Monday that Islamabad remains fully engaged in diplomatic efforts to resolve issues between the United States and Iran, following Pakistan-mediated talks in Islamabad over the weekend.
“Today, the ceasefire still stands. As I am talking to you, matters that are not resolved, full efforts are underway to resolve them,” PM Sharif said in a televised address to the federal cabinet.
Pakistan’s mediation role
Pakistan emerged as a key mediator in the US-Iran war after PM Sharif mediated a two-week ceasefire between Washington and Tehran on April 8.
Delegations from Washington and Tehran then arrived in Islamabad and held negotiations for over 20 hours at PM Sharif’s invitation over the last weekend. However, the negotiations could not result in a final agreement despite progress.
The prime minister said Pakistan played an important role in bringing the two sides to the table after nearly five decades, describing the engagement as the first direct, face-to-face dialogue at such a level.
“It was the first time that the two delegations sat face-to-face. I am a witness to it,” he said, adding that discussions continued for 21 hours.
Prime Minister Sharif said Pakistan’s political and military leadership worked tirelessly to facilitate the talks and expressed gratitude to both countries for accepting Islamabad’s invitation.
براہِ راست:وزیراعظم محمد شہباز شریف کی کابینہ اجلاس سے گفتگو https://t.co/jjqFQweCy6
— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) April 13, 2026
‘Historic moment’ for diplomacy
Calling the engagement a “historic moment”, PM Sharif said the Islamabad Talks offered an opportunity to transform rising tensions into lasting peace.
“If you look through history — take the Oslo Agreement, the Geneva Accord, the Good Friday Agreement — it took months and sometimes years to end hostilities,” he said.
He added that Pakistan’s efforts had helped sustain the ceasefire, while work continued to bridge remaining differences.
PM Sharif also said Pakistan’s mediation came at a critical time when the global economy was under strain due to the conflict, allowing Islamabad to contribute positively to regional stability.
US-Iran talks in Islamabad
Pakistan-mediated talks between the US and Iran concluded in Islamabad on Sunday after more than 21 hours of intensive negotiations, with all sides signalling that diplomatic engagement would continue.
Following the talks, Pakistan urged both countries to maintain a “positive spirit” and uphold the ceasefire.
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to facilitating dialogue, stressing that diplomacy must continue despite the absence of a breakthrough.
“We hope that the two sides continue with the positive spirit to achieve durable peace and prosperity for the entire region and beyond,” Dar said, adding that adherence to the ceasefire remained critical.
He said Pakistan would remain actively engaged in supporting future negotiations between Washington and Tehran.
‘Final and best offer’
US Vice President JD Vance said the talks were substantive but fell short of an agreement.
“We’ve made very clear what our red lines are… and they have chosen not to accept our terms,” he told reporters in Islamabad.
Vance said Washington had presented what it described as a “final and best offer” and would await Iran’s response.
He reiterated that the US objective remained ensuring that Iran does not develop nuclear weapons or the capability to rapidly acquire them.
“We need to see an affirmative commitment… not just now, but for the long term,” he said.
Iran emphasises ‘good faith’
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf struck a cautiously constructive tone following the talks, saying Tehran had entered negotiations in good faith but remained sceptical due to past experiences.
“Before the negotiations, I emphasised that we have the necessary good faith and will, but… we have no trust in the opposing side,” he said in posts on X.
He said Iranian officials had presented forward-looking proposals.
Ghalibaf also expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s role in facilitating the engagement, thanking the country for its efforts.
