PM Shehbaz optimistic about hosting US-Iran ‘Islamabad Talks 2.0’ soon

WEB DESK: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed optimism that Pakistan could host a second round of peace talks between the United States and Iran "very soon", following indications of a potential diplomatic breakthrough to end the weeks-long conflict in the Middle East.

Speaking during a four-day official visit to China, the premier suggested that Islamabad is ready to reprise its role as a diplomatic mediator, though official sources within the government indicate that formal preparations for the high-level event have yet to begin, according to Dawn News.

Conflicting signals over preparations

While the Prime Minister reportedly received serious indications from both Washington and Tehran regarding fresh, delegation-level talks, officials back home have offered a more cautious timeline.

Senior officials from the Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that while necessary arrangements will be synchronised upon the PM's return from China, there is no immediate confirmation regarding the exact dates.

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This follows the initial round of indirect talks hosted by Islamabad in April, which saw high-profile participation from US Vice President JD Vance, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

High-level diplomacy and regional backing

The diplomatic momentum has been bolstered by a multilateral telephone conference initiated by US President Donald Trump, which featured key regional leaders from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Türkiye, Egypt, the UAE, Bahrain, Jordan, and Pakistan to discuss a draft Memorandum of Understanding.

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Pakistan was represented in the high-stakes call by Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, whose efforts were publicly commended by both the Prime Minister and President Trump.

Echoing this optimism, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar lauded the sustained engagement of all international stakeholders and the United Nations, reiterating that dialogue and diplomacy must ultimately prevail over regional conflict.

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