Rawalpindi: The Pakistan Army's top brass on Tuesday emphasized that regional peace and stability are "intrinsically" connected to "collective restraint, responsibility, and respect for sovereignty" as Islamabad continues its efforts to revive stalled talks between the US and Iran to resolve a prolonged Middle East conflict.
According to Anadolu Agency, a joint statement from the corps commanders' conference, which took place at the army's headquarters in Rawalpindi under the leadership of army chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, highlighted the importance of "restraint and avoidance of escalation." The statement acknowledged Pakistan's ongoing "responsible" role in advocating for stability and supporting efforts to prevent further deterioration of the situation.
The conference discussed the broader regional security environment, noting that emerging geopolitical developments have significant implications for regional stability. On February 28, the US and Israel initiated military action against Tehran, resulting in over 3,300 fatalities in Iran and displacing tens of thousands.
At least 13 US servicemen were killed and dozens wounded during the conflict, which saw Iran retaliate against US bases and assets across the Middle East. With Munir actively mediating, Pakistan hosted the first round of negotiations between Washington and Tehran on April 11-12, although no agreement was reached to end the war.
The talks followed a two-week ceasefire brokered by Pakistan on April 8, which was later unilaterally extended by US President Donald Trump without specifying a new timeframe. Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar expressed hope on Tuesday that the peace talks between the US and Iran would conclude "soon."
Addressing a meeting of foreign diplomats in Islamabad, Dar stated that Pakistan is continuing its mediation efforts to bring about a negotiated settlement to the conflict. His remarks came before Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi's scheduled visit to China to discuss the latest regional developments with Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.
Pakistani government sources informed Anadolu that Islamabad is awaiting Tehran's response to the latest US proposal, which demands the inclusion of the nuclear issue in talks to permanently end the war, "by the end of this week." The US has rejected Tehran's 14-point proposal, which included postponing nuclear talks, insisting that the nuclear issue be tied to a permanent ceasefire, sources added.
Iran confirmed last week that it had received the US response to its 14-point formula through Pakistan and is currently reviewing it.