Pakistan's premier assures ‘highest support’ to US, Iran talks

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday pledged “highest support” to expected delegations from the US and Iran.

During a meeting with Field Marshal Asim Munir in Islamabad, Sharif lauded the “commitment of the parties involved in the process” and wished them success in their pursuit of peace.

Sharif and Munir, the chief of Pakistan’s army, met at the prime minister’s office to review progress in Islamabad’s mediation efforts between the US and Iran to “achieve sustainable peace in the region,” according to an official statement.

The meeting comes as Islamabad is set to host talks between the two sides over the weekend.

Islamabad secured a 14-day ceasefire between Washington and Tehran early Wednesday, 39 days after the US and Israel launched a war on Iran.

After announcing the halt in fighting, Sharif invited both sides to Islamabad for talks aimed at ending the conflict.

The White House confirmed that Vice President JD Vance will lead the US delegation, which will also include President Donald Trump’s special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

Pakistani government sources said Iran’s delegation is expected to include Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Bagher Ghalibaf, though there has been no official confirmation from Tehran.

Sharif and Munir expressed “satisfaction over the de-escalation achieved so far and stressed upon the need for maintaining peace and ceasefire by all parties,” the statement said.

They also “appreciated the restraint demonstrated by all sides” and reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to facilitate and provide “all out support” to both sides to reach a “peacefully negotiated settlement.”

Sharif renewed his invitation to the delegations and “assured them of the highest consideration and support by Pakistan.”

The US and Iranian delegations are expected to arrive by Friday, with talks likely to begin Saturday. The format of the talks remains unclear, but direct negotiations are expected.

More than 3,000 people have been killed in US-Israeli attacks across Iran since Feb. 28, Iran’s Forensic Authority said Thursday.

At least 13 US servicemen have been killed while dozens of other injured in the conflict between the two sides.