{"id":124614,"date":"2026-04-23T09:22:05","date_gmt":"2026-04-23T04:22:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nationaltimes.pk\/eng\/?p=124614"},"modified":"2026-04-23T09:22:06","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T04:22:06","slug":"despite-snags-pakistan-works-to-keep-channels-open","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nationaltimes.pk\/eng\/2026\/124614\/","title":{"rendered":"Despite snags, Pakistan works to keep channels open"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

ISLAMABAD(National Times)- Pakis\u00adtan on Wednesday kept its focus on sustaining the diplomatic track after facilitating a unilateral extension of the ceasefire between Iran and the US, as indications emerged that a second round of talks could take place within the next few days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Diplomats told Dawn<\/em> that intermediaries were working to reconvene the two sides, with a tentative window of \u201ctwo or three days\u201d being discussed, even as formal confirmation from Tehran remained pending.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sense of movement was reinforced by logistical signals in the capital, where major hotels informally conveyed to clients that they could not accept reservations until April 25, pointing to the need to maintain readiness for high-level engagements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The extension of the ceasefire created what officials described as a \u201ccontrolled pause\u201d rather than a resolution, with core disputes over the US naval blockade and Iran\u2019s negotiating conditions still unresolved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pakistani officials fra\u00admed the development as crea\u00adting space for diplom\u00adacy rather than a setback, dispelling any perception of a collapse, even as Iran showed reluctance to turn up for the second round.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who has been closely involved in the process, expressed optimism about the way forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI sincerely hope that both sides will continue to observe the ceasefire and be able to conclude a comprehensive \u2018Peace Deal\u2019 during the second round of talks scheduled in Islamabad for a permanent end to the conflict,\u201d he said, while welcoming the truce extension.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A meeting <\/a>between PM Shehbaz and Iranian Ambassador Reza Amiri Moghaddam, reported on Wednesday, added to speculation about Tehran\u2019s position on the next round.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, diplomatic sources clarified that the interaction had taken place a day earlier, before the ceasefire extension, and was part of ongoing consultations rather than a formal response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The PM Office said the envoy \u201ccalled on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on 22.4.2026 to discuss the ongoing regional situation and peace efforts.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the Iranian side, the messaging remained cautious and security-focused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even so, the absence of outright rejection had been read by diplomats as keeping the channel open, with Pakistan continuing to engage Tehran at multiple levels to secure participation in the next round.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dar speaks to Turkish counterpart<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar maintained an active diplomatic outreach, reinforcing Islamabad\u2019s position that dialogue remained the only viable path. In a call with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, both sides \u201creaffirmed the importance of dialogue and diplomacy in peaceful settlement of disputes\u201d, according to the Foreign Office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dar also met <\/a>British High Commissioner Jane Marriott, where he \u201cunderscored Pakistan\u2019s ongoing efforts to facilitate engagement and emphasised the importance of dialogue and diplomacy\u201d, while the UK \u201cappreciated and supported Pakistan\u2019s facilitative role in bringing the US and Iran to the negotiating table\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These engagements formed part of a broader effort by Islamabad to sustain international backing for the process and to distribute ownership of the fragile diplomatic track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pakistan has been maintaining simultaneous engagement with both sides, projecting neutrality while addressing Iranian concerns about \u2018pressure-based diplomacy\u2019 and encouraging flexibility in Washington.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The emphasis, officials said, was on preserving the ceasefire first and creating conditions for substantive negotiations later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the guarded optimism, risks remained pronounced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The underlying disagreements over sanctions, the blockade and nuclear commitments had not shifted, and the extended pause had yet to produce convergence on sequencing or guarantees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For now, the ceasefire extension has bought time. According to diplomats, the next 48 to 72 hours will be critical in determining whether the process moves toward a second round or settles into a prolonged holding pattern.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

ISLAMABAD(National Times)- Pakis\u00adtan on Wednesday kept its focus on sustaining the diplomatic track after facilitating a unilateral extension of the ceasefire between Iran and the US, as indications emerged that a second round of talks could take place within the next few days. Diplomats told Dawn that intermediaries were working to reconvene the two sides, with a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":124615,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-124614","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest_news","entry"],"yoast_head":"\nDespite snags, Pakistan works to keep channels open - Nation<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/nationaltimes.pk\/eng\/2026\/124614\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Despite snags, Pakistan works to keep channels open - Nation\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"ISLAMABAD(National Times)- Pakis\u00adtan on Wednesday kept its focus on sustaining the diplomatic track after facilitating a unilateral extension of the ceasefire between Iran and the US, as indications emerged that a second round of talks could take place within the next few days. 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