Islamabad: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday held separate discussions with delegations from the United States and Iran, who have arrived in Islamabad to negotiate an end to the conflict that commenced on February 28. Sharif expressed optimism that these negotiations could act as a “stepping stone” towards achieving enduring peace in the region.

According to Anadolu Agency, Sharif engaged in a meeting with US Vice President JD Vance and his delegation following separate discussions with the Iranian delegation led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf. In his meeting with Vance, Sharif praised the dedication shown by both delegations to engage in constructive dialogue. He expressed hope that these talks would pave the way for lasting peace in the region, as stated by his office.

The presence of Vance and Qalibaf in the Pakistani capital is part of efforts to end the conflict following Islamabad’s successful negotiation of a two-week ceasefire between the conflicting parties on Wednesday. Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to facilitating progress towards sustainable peace in the region.

Accompanying Vance are US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi were also present during the meeting with the US delegation. Prior to the meeting with the US team, Sharif held talks with the Iranian side, led by Qalibaf, as reported by the Iranian public broadcaster IRIB. However, no official statement has been released by Islamabad regarding the meeting with the Iranian delegation.

Qalibaf’s team includes Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Ali Bagheri Kani, deputy to the National Security Council, among others. The Iranian delegation arrived in Islamabad ahead of the US Air Force Two, which carried Vance on Saturday.

The negotiations, known as the “Islamabad Talks,” are set to commence at around 3 pm local time (1000GMT). Pakistan is hosting these significant discussions, which are expected to include both direct and indirect formats, to address the extensive Middle Eastern conflict initiated by the US-Israeli war on Iran. The conflict aimed at eliminating perceived threats and ending Iran’s nuclear program has resulted in nearly 3,000 Iranian casualties, according to the country’s health authorities, and has also claimed the lives of at least 13 US servicemen, leaving dozens wounded.