ISLAMABAD: UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has paid tribute to Pakistan for its key role in achieving the ceasefire in the Middle East and paving the way for the US-Iran talks to end the conflict.
The UK Foreign Secretary said this during a telephonic conversation with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Thursday, a Foreign Office statement said.
Cooper appreciated Pakistan for its role in achieving the ceasefire, expressing support for Islamabad’s continued efforts to promote lasting peace and stability in the region.
DPM/FM Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 received a telephone call from UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper @YvetteCooperMP of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
FS Cooper appreciated DPM/FM and paid tribute to Pakistan for its role in achieving the ceasefire,… pic.twitter.com/mU45RU5S0z
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) April 9, 2026
“Both leaders reaffirmed the strength of close bilateral ties and committed to further enhancing cooperation,” the statement concluded.
Earlier, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for his endorsement of Pakistan’s sincere efforts for peace.
“We remain committed to working closely with our friends and partners, including the United Kingdom, in our collective pursuit of enduring peace in the region and beyond,” he said on X.
I appreciate Prime Minister @Keir_Starmer for his endorsement of Pakistan’s sincere efforts for peace.
We remain committed to working closely with our friends and partners including the United Kingdom, in our collective pursuit of enduring peace in the region and beyond. https://t.co/QzvSGuZvts
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) April 9, 2026
Pakistan prepares to host US–Iran talks
Pakistan is set to host high-stakes negotiations between the US and Iran this weekend, as a two-week ceasefire — brokered through Islamabad’s intensive diplomatic efforts — entered its second day on Thursday.
Delegations are expected to arrive in Islamabad on Friday, with formal negotiations scheduled for Saturday.
The talks mark a pivotal moment in efforts to de-escalate a conflict that had threatened to engulf the wider Middle East, with Pakistan now positioned at the centre of global diplomacy.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday said that delegations from Washington and Tehran will arrive in Islamabad for talks.
PM Sharif said the aim is to “further negotiate for a conclusive agreement to settle all disputes”.
