Pakistan rebuffs claims of US-Iran mediation talks hitting roadblocks
What's the story
Pakistan has rejected media reports that its efforts to mediate talks between the United States and Iran have hit obstacles. Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi called the reports "baseless" and a "figment of imagination." He said, "We categorically reject these false insinuations attributed to purported official sources as baseless and a figment of imagination." The clarification came after speculation arose from a closed-door briefing by a senior foreign ministry official.
Media caution
'Urge media platforms to exercise due diligence'
Andrabi urged media platforms to exercise due diligence and rely on officially issued statements for accurate information. He said, "We therefore urge all media platforms to exercise due diligence, avoid speculation, and rely exclusively on officially issued statements and media readouts for accurate and timely information." The reports suggested some progress had been made in relaying messages between Washington and Tehran, but momentum slowed due to a lack of a clear response from Iran.
Diplomatic deadlock
Iran refuses to engage with US-led delegation in Islamabad
The Wall Street Journal reported that Iran has refused to engage with any US-led delegation in Islamabad. A report by Dawn cited an official familiar with the discussions as saying, "It is surprising that despite the obliteration of significant naval, air force, and other military and civilian infrastructure, Iran has not responded positively to calls for negotiations." Despite this, Pakistani leaders claim outreach efforts continue.
Ongoing efforts
Pakistan has stepped up diplomatic efforts since conflict began
Pakistan has stepped up its diplomatic efforts since the conflict began, partly due to its security commitments in the region. Islamabad is yet to broker a ceasefire but has kept itself from being drawn directly into the conflict. The war started with joint US-Israel strikes on Iran on February 28, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several top commanders.