Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met US Chargé d’Affaires to Pakistan, Natalie Baker, in Islamabad, where the two discussed ongoing diplomatic efforts to hold a second round of US-Iran talks, the interior ministry said.
According to the interior ministry’s statement, during their “important meeting”, Naqvi and Baker exchanged detailed views on the latest regional situation and discussed diplomatic efforts regarding the possible second round of US-Iran negotiations in Islamabad.
Naqvi commended US President Donald Trump’s initiative to extend the ceasefire, calling it a “welcome development” that made significant progress towards reducing tensions.
“We also hope for positive progress from Iran’s side,” the interior minister was quoted as saying.
The meeting emphasised the need for continuity in diplomatic channels for a lasting resolution to the conflict.
According to the ministry, the minister told Baker that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Asim Munir were making “all-out efforts at every level” to resolve the issue.
“It is hoped that both parties will give a chance to a diplomatic and peaceful solution,” Naqvi said.
Uncertainty has prevailed over the prospect of parleys, with the arrival of the US negotiators to Islamabad having been put off on Wednesday and no confirmation by Tehran about its participation.
The second round of negotiations has been delayed due to continued friction between the two countries, particularly regarding Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the US blockade of Iran’s ports.
As the ceasefire extension created space for further diplomacy, Trump on Wednesday hoped a second round of talks could take place within two to three days, despite persistent mistrust.
“It’s possible!” Trump reportedly told the New York Post by text message, after the newspaper reached out to him to confirm whether the talks were “expected in Islamabad within the next 36 to 72 hours”.
However, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei did not give a clear answer on resuming talks with the US.
When asked about the possibility of a second round of talks, Baqaei replied, “Diplomacy is a tool to secure national interests and security, and whenever we conclude that the necessary and logical groundwork is in place to use this tool for realising national interests and consolidating the Iranian nation’s achievements in frustrating enemies from achieving their sinister goals, we will take action.”
On Monday, the interior minister held separate meetings with the Baker and Iran’s Ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri Moghadam, to discuss arrangements for a second round of Islamabad Talks.
During his meeting that day, Naqvi informed Baker about the security measures taken for holding the talks, saying that “special security arrangements have been made for all our special guests”.
The first round of historic direct US-Iran talks was held in Islamabad on April 11 and 12, following a Pakistan-brokered ceasefire on April 8. It had ended without an agreement, but also without a breakdown.
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