Pakistan seeks ‘permanent’ end to war, urges US, Iran to show ‘flexibility’

Pakistan wants a “permanent termination” of the US-Israeli war on Iran, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar told Antalya Diplomacy Forum on Friday, calling on Washington and Tehran to “show flexibility.”

Pakistan is mediating between the US and Iran after the war began on Feb. 28 and has hosted the highest-level talks between the two sides since they snapped diplomatic ties in 1979.

Islamabad’s “objective is not ceasefire extension. Our main objective is the permanent termination of war," and an agreement between the parties, Dar told the high-level segment of the forum in the Turkish resort city of Antalya.

About Pakistan’s ongoing mediation, Dar said: “More than 80% of the work has been done. And a couple of things are (remaining)… both parties have to show flexibility.”

The statement by Dar urging the US and Iran to show some flexibility comes as Tehran on Friday declared the Strait of Hormuz “completely open” for commercial ships -- the first time since the war began on Feb. 28. Pakistan secured a 14-day ceasefire between the US and Iran on April 8.

Tehran imposed control on the key waterway soon after the US and Israel launched a war against Iran on Feb. 28, affecting global energy supplies and maritime traffic.

The US has imposed its own blockade on Iranian ports since Monday this week, and President Donald Trump has threatened to continue it.

Tehran’s announcement came after Pakistan army chief Gen. Asim Munir met Iran's top civil and military leadership over the past two days in Tehran.