Field Marshal Asim Munir returned to Islamabad on Saturday after a three-day visit to Tehran, where he met Iran’s president, foreign minister, parliament speaker, and head of military command as Pakistan intensified its mediation between Washington and Tehran.
The army chief’s trip concluded just as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived back from Antalya, wrapping up a separate diplomatic tour of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkiye aimed at sustaining momentum for renewed US-Iran negotiations.
Pakistan’s military said Munir’s visit demonstrated the country’s “unwavering resolve to facilitate a negotiated settlement… and to promote peace, stability and prosperity,” ahead of expected talks in Islamabad in the coming days.
The Iranian delegation led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had already held the highest-level face-to-face contact with US officials in decades during last week’s Islamabad talks, which ended without agreement.
A ceasefire tied to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz is set to expire on April 22, heightening urgency after Tehran reimposed restrictions on the waterway hours following its reopening, accusing the US of violating the understanding.
Donald Trump has indicated a second round of talks could be held in Pakistan soon, with the New York Post reporting he praised Munir on social media as “doing a great job,” according to Al Jazeera’s reporting from Islamabad.
Minister for Law and Justice Barrister Aqeel Malik told a private news channel on Friday that preparations for the next round of talks were complete, including enhanced security measures, and said the coming week would be “quite significant” for Pakistan.
Malik noted that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s announcement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz for commercial vessels aligned with a 10-day ceasefire in Lebanon, adding that Pakistan and allied nations had supported diplomatic efforts to that effect.
He said statements from both Iranian and US authorities indicated matters had “largely been settled,” describing the direction as “moving forward in the right and positive direction,” while stressing that mediation cannot be rushed and outcomes depend on shuttle diplomacy.
Malik ruled out involvement of other foreign leaders in any potential agreement, reiterating that the process remains strictly between Washington and Tehran, with Pakistan acting as sole mediator and facilitator.
How the Strait of Hormuz became a flashpoint in the negotiations
Iran’s decision to reimpose restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz shortly after its reopening followed the start of a Lebanon ceasefire, triggering accusations from Tehran that Washington failed to uphold its part of the understanding to keep the vital shipping lane open.
The waterway’s strategic importance — through which roughly 20% of global oil trade passes — has made it a recurring leverage point in US-Iran tensions, with any disruption raising immediate concerns about regional stability and energy markets.
Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach to Gulf states and Turkiye aimed to build regional consensus behind de-escalation, particularly as Iran framed its actions as a response to perceived US bad faith.
What Malik’s comments reveal about the pace and limits of diplomacy
Barrister Aqeel Malik emphasized that while progress had been “significant” and both sides had developed an understanding, diplomacy remains a gradual process requiring messaging and shuttle diplomacy, in which Pakistan has played a pivotal role.
He avoided specifying timelines, noting that outcomes cannot be rushed, but pointed to public statements from President Trump and Iranian officials as indicators that movement had occurred in a positive direction.
By ruling out participation from other heads of state, Malik underscored that any agreement would be bilateral in nature, even if facilitated by Islamabad, limiting the scope to nuclear, maritime, or regional security understandings between Washington and Tehran.
Why Islamabad is preparing for talks despite last week’s stalemate
Despite the absence of a formal agreement in the previous round, Pakistani officials described the Islamabad talks as productive, citing continued engagement and renewed commitments from both sides to return to the table.
The military and civilian leadership have framed their efforts as complementary, with Munir’s Tehran visit and Sharif’s regional tour designed to consolidate gains and prepare the ground for another attempt at negotiation.
Officials said preventive security measures were being strengthened for the upcoming talks, reflecting the high-stakes nature of the engagement and the sensitivity of hosting adversarial powers on Pakistani soil.
What is the significance of Pakistan hosting US-Iran talks?
Pakistan has hosted the highest-level direct talks between the US and Iran since their diplomatic ties were cut in 1979, making it a rare and trusted backchannel for communication between the two adversaries.
Why is the Strait of Hormuz central to the current negotiations?
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global oil chokepoint, and Iran’s recent reimposition of restrictions after a brief reopening — which it blamed on US violations — has raised tensions and made waterway access a key issue in the talks.
When are the next US-Iran talks expected to take place?
Officials indicate the next round of talks could occur within the coming days, with Islamabad preparing to host them as early as Monday, though no fixed date has been publicly confirmed.
