ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Tuesday that Islamabad was ready to host negotiations to help stop the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, as US President Donald Trump reposted the prime minister's message on his Truth Social platform.
"Pakistan welcomes and fully supports ongoing efforts to pursue dialogue to end the WAR in Middle East, in the interest of peace and stability in (the) region and beyond," the premier wrote on X.
"Subject to concurrence by the US and Iran, Pakistan stands ready and honoured to be the host to facilitate meaningful and conclusive talks for a comprehensive settlement of the ongoing conflict."
The statement by Pakistan's prime minister came after the Tehran foreign ministry suggested on Monday that it had received messages from "some friendly countries indicating a US request for negotiations to end the war," according to the official IRNA news agency.
PM Sharif said he had spoken with Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian, promising his government's help in bringing peace to the region.
Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said he had been in touch with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi.
Iran is a long-standing ally of Pakistan, and Islamabad condemned the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. It also sent congratulations to his son and successor, Mojtaba.
Trump postpones military strikes for five days
Earlier on Monday, President Trump stated on Truth Social that the US and Iran had “over the last two days” very good and productive conversations regarding a complete and total resolution of hostilities in the Middle East.
While he stated that the “constructive conversations” will continue throughout the week, he added that he has directed the Department of War to “postpone any and all military strikes against Iran's power plants and energy infrastructure for a five-day period.”
He stated that the pause in the strikes was contingent on the success of ongoing meetings and discussions.
Later in the day, while speaking at a roundtable in Memphis, President Trump reiterated that he directed the Department of War to temporarily postpone planned strikes against major energy and electricity targets in Iran.
China praises Pakistan’s role in Middle East
At a press conference in Islamabad, Ambassador Jiang Zaidong of the People's Republic of China commended Pakistan's mediation role in the Middle East.
He said China supports resolving disputes through dialogue rather than force, and opposes unilateral actions and power politics in the Middle East.
He said China opposes subordinating international law to domestic law, as the actions taking place in the Middle East are violating the UN Charter.
He also emphasized that non-military targets should not be attacked and the security of sea lanes should not be disrupted.
On-going casualities
The ongoing US-Israel war on Iran has entered its fourth week, with the joint strikes resulting in the assassination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Spokesman Ali Mohammad Naini, and Ali Larijani, a military officer and former speaker of the Iranian parliament.
The conflict, which began on Feb. 28 last month and has now entered its 24th day, has caused widespread economic destruction and casualties in the region.
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